When is either bypass surgery or angioplasty needed in the setting of stable angina pectoris?
This is a hot topic from sci.med.cardiology and I would direct your attention to the following reference: “Bypass Surgery for Chronic Stable Angina: Predictors of Survival Benefit and Strategy for Patient Selection” Annals of Internal Medicine. 1991; 114:1035-1049. The point here is that revascularization is not for everyone but knowing the anatomy can help determine the best treatment. It is true that medical treatment has gotten better with the advent of better lipid-lowering medications but one would fully expect that the benefits from these advancements would extend to revascularized patients who are supposed to continue receiving medical follow-up (though some are lulled into thinking their surgery or angioplasty is a cure that gives them the green light to continue with their old lifestyle ways until the next procedure).
