Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Coronary-Artery Bypass Grafts

Coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been performed for more than 30 years. After the first bypass operation with a saphenous-vein graft, in 1964,1 the technique was formally described in 19672; one year later the use of a graft from the internal thoracic artery was initiated. Revascularization with CABG was complemented in 1977 by the technique of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). These revascularization methods have profound economic implications; approximately 1 million patients undergo revascularization in the United States each year, at an estimated cost exceeding $15 billion.3 CABG, the most commonly performed major operation in the United States, effectively . . .