Nieheim

Researchers are evaluating coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in patients with coronary artery disease, focusing on whether using two or more arterial grafts instead of a single arterial graft reduces the combined risk of death, stroke, heart attack, or repeat surgeries. This large, international, randomized trial aims to test if multiple arterial grafts improve long-term survival and reduce serious complications after surgery. Patients are randomly assigned to receive either a single arterial graft using the left internal thoracic artery to the main heart artery, supported by vein grafts for other blocked vessels, or multiple arterial grafts including a second arterial graft (right internal thoracic artery or radial artery) to a major heart branch plus additional vein or arterial grafts. The study enrolls at least 4,300 patients across 25 centers worldwide, with treatment randomly assigned in equal groups. Participants will be followed to measure outcomes such as death, stroke, heart attack after hospital discharge, and repeat procedures occurring more than 72 hours after surgery. The trial records health events and survival to assess differences between the two grafting approaches. This detailed monitoring helps researchers understand the benefits and risks of using multiple arterial grafts in CABG over time.