Purpose of review: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has evolved and become much safer since its inception. This article outlines recent strategies in optimizing CABG mortality.
Recent findings: Improving operative mortality around CABG relates to five components. These include the role of relevant quality indicators; improved CABG techniques, such as multiple arterial grafting with less manipulation of the aorta; improvements in cardiopulmonary bypass; refinements in cardiac anaesthesia along with postoperative care; and the development of centres of excellence.
Summary: The development of advanced surgical revascularization techniques raises the question as to whether CABG expertise should be considered a sub-specialty of cardiac surgery. An expert CABG surgeon should be able to appropriately utilize several different revascularization techniques to adjust the operation to the patient, rather than the contrary.