CoronaryMultivessel coronary artery disease (MVCAD) is defined by the presence of ≥50 % diameter stenosis of two or more epicardial coronary arteries.The presence of MVCAD indicates poorer prognosis and a significantly higher mortality than single-vessel disease. In MVCAD, revascularisation can be achieved by either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).1,2 A comprehensive definition of the adequacy of myocardial revascularisation should take into account the size of the vessel, the angiographic and functional severity of the lesion, and the viability of the myocardial territory. 3 Accordingly, anatomic and functional complete revascularisation (CR) are not always synonymous. Generally, the anatomic CR is defined by treatment of all ≥50 % stenosis in vessels of ≥1.5 mm diameter, whereas functional CR is defined by treatment of all lesions assessed as functionally relevant (with both invasive or non-invasive methods) in the presence of myocardial viability in the dependent territory, see Table 1.
3At present, only a few trials have been specifically designed to directly evaluate the adequacy of revascularisation. Current literature, mostly relying on meta-analyses of non-randomised observational studies, 4,5 lists the adequacy of revascularisation among factors that should guide the choice of treatment strategy. In most patients with MVCAD, the main advantage of CABG over PCI seems to be conferred by the achievement of more extensive revascularisation. Most of the difference in terms of the benefit of CABG over PCI seems to derive from patients who undergo incomplete revascularisation (IR). As documented in a recent patient-level analysis, long-term mortality was similar between patients undergoing CR with either PCI or CABG, whereas it was significantly higher with IR after PCI than CABG.
6Although much less invasive than traditional CABG, PCI yields lower rates of CR in patients with multiple coronary lesions. 7 IR can occasionally be implemented in addition to CABG in order to reduce complications, mainly when minimally invasive or off-pump surgery is attempted.
AbstractIn multivessel coronary artery disease (MVCAD), myocardial revascularisation can be achieved by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), with complete revascularisation on all diseased coronary segments or with incomplete revascularisation on selectively targeted lesions. Complete revascularisation confers a long-term prognostic benefit, but is associated with a higher rate of periprocedural events compared with incomplete revascularisation. In most patients with MVCAD, the main advantage of CABG over PCI is conferred by the achievement of more extensive revascularisation. According to current international guidelines, PCI is generally preferred in single-vessel disease, low-risk MVCAD or isolated left main disease; whereas CABG is usually recommended in patients with complex two-vessel disease, most patients with three-vessel disease and/or non-isolate...