Final answer:
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) are two procedures used to treat coronary artery disease. PCI is less invasive and involves using a balloon-like tip to widen a narrowed artery, with the option of inserting a stent. CABG is an open-heart surgery that uses healthy blood vessels to create a new bypass route around blocked arteries. PCI is suitable for patients with multiple blockages or high surgical risk, while CABG is recommended for severe or diffuse disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to treating coronary artery disease, there are two main procedures: percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). PCI, also known as angioplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure in which a balloon-like tip is inflated to widen a narrowed artery, and a stent is often inserted to keep the artery open. On the other hand, CABG is an open-heart surgery in which a healthy blood vessel, often taken from another part of the body, is used to create a new bypass route around the blocked artery.
The benefit of PCI is that it is less invasive, involves a shorter recovery time, and can be performed on patients with multiple blockages or high surgical risk. Conversely, CABG is typically recommended for patients with severe blockages or diffuse disease. It allows for complete revascularization and has shown to be more effective than PCI in certain cases, particularly for patients with diabetes or left main coronary artery disease.