Interesting paper evaluating the usage of IMA for coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the USA from 1988 to 2008 among Medicare users. The study looks into the adoption of IMA grafting over this period of time and the variation in its use among different states which goes from less than 87.5% to over 95%. Differences in outcomes in those patients with and without an IMA graft were also analyzed.
Adoption and effectiveness of internal mammary artery grafting in coronary artery bypass surgery among Medicare beneficiaries
Submitted by: Erica Curcio
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Source URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24080110
Keywords:
Author(s): Hlatky MA, Boothroyd DB, Reitz BA, Shilane DA, Baker LC, Go AS.