Does CABGs really prevent future MIs and deaths ?
March 2, 2026 by dr s venkatesan
This is a very crucial question debated, by cardiologists , cardiac surgeons for long decades (of course our patients too need an answer desperately)
Will CABG prevent or reduce future MI risk ?
The answer is not at all simple , most of us are still tentative.
Read the conclusion of these two famous studies. STICH and STICHES. Hope we get closer to a clear answer.The study population may not fit in to all CAD population. Still it is useful to get some information about this issue.
Final mesage
It is indeed true a STICH in time , really saves nine.
Postamble
The toughness of answering this question lies in the fact, it takes hardly three minutes , for a non flow limiting 30% lesion to transform to a life threatening ACS.
Real world data reveals, most patients with multivessel CAD harbors, a minimum of half a dozen non flow limiting lesions. CABG has a huge edge, in this situation ,as most of these lesions are proximal to bypass conduit.
Counter point
Lastly , and most importantly, it is the intensive medical management and life style modifications, that will determine, whether CABGs are going to work, as it did , to the lucky patients of STICHES cohort.
