Coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) is very commonly performed. CABG improves survival among patients with multivessel coronary disease; those with more severe coronary disease, diabetes, or left ventricular dysfunction are especially likely to benefit. Coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a procedure in which autologous arteries or veins are used as grafts to bypass coronary arteries that are partially or completely obstructed by atherosclerotic plaque. CABG is among the most commonly performed major surgical procedures, with approximately 400,000 operations performed annually in the United States. During the past decade, however, there has been nearly a 30% decline in CABG procedures in the United States, despite an aging population and growing evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of the operation. 1 – 6 This decline has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures. . . .