Coronary bypass surgery has seen an explosive increase in use, with an estimated 25,000 operations performed for coronary artery disease in the US in the past year, prompting calls for caution.
Timeo chirurgos et dona ferentes C ORONARY BYPASS surgery is un- doubtedly the current rage in cardiolog- ic practice, the major topic in cardiologic discussion. In his Presidential address to the American Heart Association, appearing in this issue of CIRCULATION, a distinguished cardiac surgeon urges caution in the application of the operation and calls for better definition of operative indications. Yet, even in the few months that have elapsed since the address was delivered, there has been a continuing and explosive increase in the number of such operations; it is estimated that, of approxi- mately 50,000 cardiac operations performed in the United States in the past year, 25,000 were for coronary artery disease.
Charles K. Friedberg (Sat,) conducted a editorial in Coronary artery disease. Coronary bypass surgery was evaluated. Coronary bypass surgery has seen an explosive increase in use, with an estimated 25,000 operations performed for coronary artery disease in the US in the past year, prompting calls for caution.