What surgical intervention is recommended for patients with three-vessel disease?

In patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the recommended surgical intervention due to its proven benefits in improving survival and reducing the risk of myocardial infarction. Three-vessel disease indicates that there is significant blockage in the major coronary arteries, which can compromise blood flow to the heart muscle and lead to increased morbidity and mortality.

CABG involves creating new paths for blood to flow to the heart by bypassing the blocked arteries. The procedure typically uses veins or arteries from other parts of the body to restore adequate blood supply, thereby alleviating symptoms such as angina and improving overall cardiac function and quality of life.

Other interventions like angioplasty and stenting are less suitable for three-vessel disease since they are primarily recommended for single or double-vessel disease. These methods may relieve symptoms but do not address the extensive disease affecting multiple coronary vessels as effectively as CABG does. Additionally, aortic valve replacement does not relate directly to the management of coronary artery disease, as it focuses on valvular issues rather than revascularization needed in a patient with three-vessel blockages. Therefore, the surgical intervention of choice in this scenario is CABG, addressing the underlying coronary artery disease effectively.