New Surgical Approaches to Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

Coronary heart disease is now the principal cause of death in the Western world. In recent years a new surgical approach to the problem has been developed with encouraging results. The operation of aorto-coronary bypass grafting with autogenous vein relieves angina in the majority of patients. Whether or not the long term prognosis is improved is not yet known. A European multi-centre controlled trial has been organised to answer this question.