Which Revascularization Strategy Makes Patients Feel Better?

For patients with severe coronary artery disease who choose revascularization, deciding whether to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is often difficult. In the SYNTAX trial, bypass surgery was associated with a lower risk for the composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and repeat revascularization, primarily because of a significant difference in the repeat-revascularization rate (JW Cardiol Feb 18 2009). The SYNTAX investigators now assess patient-reported outcomes, such as relief from angina and quality of life.

At 1 month, angina frequency, measured by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), improved in both groups, although scores on some subscales were signific…