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Syntax trial
Study characteristics:
- sponsored by the manufacturer of the Taxus drug-eluting stent
- 1800 patients with previously untreated left-main or 3-vessel disease were randomized to CABG or PCI
- either intervention was deemed feasible by a cardiologist & a surgeon
Results:
- at 1 year, incidence of the primary composite endpoint (death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or repeat revascularization) was significantly lower with CABG than with PCI (12.4% vs. 17.8%)
- CABG patients had a small but significantly higher rate of stroke (2%)
- CABG patients had an 8% lower need for revascularization procedure within 1 year
Limitations:
- only 1 year of follow-up
Related considerations:
- longer recuperation time after CABG than after stenting
- prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy with drug-eluting stents
General
clinical trial
References
- Serruys PW et al for the SYNTAX Investigators.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention versus coronary-artery
bypass grafting for severe coronary artery disease.
N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 18; [e-pub ahead of print].
http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0804626
PMID: 19228612
- Lange RA and Hillis LD.
SYNTAX in context.
N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 18; [e-pub ahead of print].
http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMe0900452
PMID: 19228611