@article{Herz_Mohr_Moshkovitz_Ben-Gal_Adam_Braunstein_Uretzky_2005, title={Revascularization of the Left Anterior Descending Artery with Drug-Eluting Stents: Comparison with Arterial Off-Pump Surgery}, volume={7}, url={https://journal.hsforum.com/index.php/HSF/article/view/1107}, DOI={10.1532/HSF98.20041063}, abstractNote={<P>Background: This study compared early results of left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenting using drug-eluting stents (Cypher) with off-pump bilateral internal thoracic arterial (BITA) grafting. </P><P>Methods: From June 2002 to June 2003, 200 consecutive patients underwent myocardial revascularization of the LAD territory, 100 by Cypher and 100 by BITA. The 2 groups were similar; however, left main disease and triple-vessel disease (20% and 75% versus 2% and 28%), age >70 (36% versus 17%) and intraaortic balloon pump (7% versus 0%) were more prevalent in the BITA group, and prior percutaneous coronary angiogplasty to the LAD was more prevalent in the Cypher group (28% versus 16%). </P><P>Results: The number of coronary vessels treated per patient in the BITA group was higher (2.7 versus 1.45, P < .01). Thirty-day mortality was 1% in the BITA group and 0% in the Cypher group. Mean follow-up was 12 months. There was 1 late death in each group. Angina returned in 32% of the Cypher group and in 1% of the BITA group. There were 9 reinterventions in the Cypher group: 7 coronary angioplasties (including 2 to the LAD) and 2 surgical interventions. There was neither recurrent angina nor reintervention in the surgical group. </P><P>Conclusions: Despite a higher risk profile of patients treated with BITA, their clinical outcome is better. A longer and more complete angiographic follow-up is required to determine the role of drug-eluting stents in LAD revascularization.</P>}, number={5}, journal={The Heart Surgery Forum}, author={Herz, Itzhak and Mohr, Rephael and Moshkovitz, Yaron and Ben-Gal, Yanai and Adam, Sharon Z and Braunstein, Roni and Uretzky, Gideon}, year={2005}, month={Jan.}, pages={E490-E492} }