Reassessing coronary artery bypass grafting

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has become one of the most frequently performed surgical treatments at major medical centers throughout the country (Hurst, 1986). Consequently, it has increased the cost of medical care and prompted critics to suggest that the major indication for CABG is the surgeon's greed (Easterbrook, 1987). The development of percutaneous angioplasty has further intensified questions concerning the need and timing for CABG in patients eligible for the less invasive technique.