The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI)

Objectives:

The BARI (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation) trial was designed to compare survival in patients randomized to receive either percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Background and Methods:

Angioplasty and bypass surgery have been compared in numerous studies, but long-term clinical outcomes are limited. Symptomatic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (n = 1,829) were randomly assigned to initial treatment with PTCA or CABG and followed up for an average of 10.4 years.

Data:

The limited access database contains a subset of the trial data and includes baseline characteristics and 10 year followup information on all 1,829 patients. Endpoints include subsequent revascularization, new myocardial infarction or death.

Conclusions:

There was no significant long-term disadvantage regarding mortality or myocardial infarction associated with an initial strategy of PTCA compared with CABG. Among patients with treated diabetes, CABG conferred long-term survival benefit, whereas the 2 initial strategies were equivalent regarding survival for patients without diabetes.