Radial-Artery Grafts Are Superior to Saphenous-Vein Grafts

Clinical results from a pooled, patient-level analysis of randomized trials

Observational studies have suggested a benefit from additional arterial grafts in coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG), but these findings have not been replicated in randomized controlled trials, most of which have been small and underpowered to detect differences in clinical outcomes. As a result, the cardiac surgical community has been reluctant to abandon the use of saphenous-vein bypass grafts. To address these issues, investigators analyzed data from the Radial Artery Database International Alliance, which pooled patient-level data from randomized controlled trials that had been designed to assess angiographic (i.e., not clinical) outcomes.

The analysis included 1036 CABG patients in five trials who were randomized between 1996 and 2…

Reviewing Author

David J. Cohen, MD, MSc

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMedtronic; Edwards Lifesciences; Abbott Vascular; Boston Scientific; St. Francis Hospital

Speaker’s BureauBoston Scientific; ZOLL Medical

Grant/Research SupportEdwards Lifesciences; Abbott Vascular; Boston Scientific; Corvia Medical; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Phillips, Inc.; St. Paul’s Hospital; V-Wave, Inc; ZOLL Medical; CathWorks, ANCORA

Editorial BoardsJACC; American Heart Journal; EuroIntervention; JSCAI; Structural Heart Journal

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT Registry (Co-Chair, Risk Model Development Committee); Cardiovascular Research Foundation (Co-Director, TCT Annual Meeting; Co-Director, New York Valves Annual Meeting)