What are the results of the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) Registry?
The Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) Registry found that patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery had improved long-term survival compared to those who received medical therapy alone. Specifically, the Circulation study from 1983 found that patients who received coronary artery bypass surgery had a much lower mortality rate at five years (8.7%) compared to those who received medical therapy alone (17.3%). Furthermore, the study found that the overall risk of death or myocardial infarction at five years was also lower in the surgery group (18.6%) compared to the medical therapy group (29.7%). These results suggest that coronary artery bypass surgery may be a beneficial treatment option for those with severe ischemia and one- or two-vessel coronary artery disease. 