Results from the Multicentre Randomized Arterial Revascularization Therapy Study

V. Legrand¹ MD, PhD, FESC,
P. Serruys² MD, PhD, FACC, FESC,
WK Lindeboom³ PhD,
M. Vrolix⁴ MD,
G. Fransen⁴ MD,
P. Materne⁵ MD,
G. Dekoster⁵ MD,
R. Seabra-Gomes⁶ MD,FESC,
J. Queiroz E Melo⁶ MD

¹CHU Liege Belgium.
²Thoraxcenter, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
³Cardialysis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴St Jansziekenhuis, Genk, Belgium.
⁵CHR Citadelle, Liege, Belgium.
⁶Hosp Santa Cruz, Carnaxide, Portugal.

Key words : coronary angioplasty, stent, coronary bypass surgery, elderly.

Introduction
As the population ages, an increasing number of elderly patients are presenting with symptomatic multivessel coronary artery disease requiring revascularization. However, the most appropriate myocardial revascularization procedure for older patients with multivessel disease is still controversial. Indeed, it is well recognized that the procedure-related morbidity associated with either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) increases dramatically with age.