This is a very crucial question debated, by cardiologists , cardiac surgeons for long decades (of course our patients too need an answer desperately)
Will CABG prevent or reduce future MI risk ?
The answer is not at all simple , most of us are still tentative.
Have a look at the conclusion of these two famous studies. STICH and STICHES. Hope, we could reach closer to a clear answer.Ofcourse, the study population may not fit in to all the CAD population we come across. Still, it conveys some useful information about this issue.
Final mesage
It is indeed true a STICH in time , really saves nine.
Postamble
The toughness of answering this question lies in the fact, it takes hardly three minutes , for a non flow limiting 30% lesion to transform to a life threatening ACS.
Real world data reveals, most patients with multivessel CAD harbor, a minimum of half a dozen non flow limiting lesions. CABG has a huge edge, in this situation ,as most of these lesions are proximal to bypass conduit.
Counter point
Lastly , and most importantly, it is the intensive medical management and life style modifications, that will determine, whether CABGs are going to work, as it did , to the lucky patients of STICHES cohort.
Dr.S.Venkatesan MD 