In the real world, coronary disease remains to be the most prevalent cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The treatment options have continued to evolve especially with the rapid advances in percutaneous intervention blurring the difference between which form of therapy is better for a particular patient. The evolution of drug-eluting stent blurs the once mighty benefit of surgical bypass to the issue of lower incidence of repeated intervention rather than the hard end points of myocardial infarction and death.
PCI saves lives in acute coronary syndrome, these are patients brought to the emergency room with acute chest pains due to ischemia.
PCI has never been shown by various studies to be superior to optimal medical therapy in preventing MI in the stable patient. PCI in the setting of stable patient is best reserved for those that remain symptomatic inspite of maximal medical therapy.
Diabetics are a special group of patients at risk for repeated intervention if percutatneous intervention is employed hence, diabetics as a rule are best served with coronary artery bypass surgery rather than PCI. There are always exeption to the rule hence, an office discussion with your physician maybe warranted in this regard.
I will be giving a talk on revascularization options for patients with coronary artery disease during the Philippine Heart Association Post Graduate course on February 8, 2008 at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City. Feel free to email me at EdgarTan62@yahoo.com for any quesitons.
