The pioneering era of bilateral internal mammary artery grafting for CABG in Europe
Early German BIMA-CABG, performed as first-line therapy for coronary artery disease prior to the stent era, achieved excellent 20-year survival and minimal repeat revascularization. This cohort provides unique long-term evidence from the pioneering era of arterial revascularization in Europe, highlighting clinical, epidemiological and historical significance and underscore the pioneering role of BIMA grafting in shaping modern arterial revascularization strategies.
Authors
- Ingo Kutschka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7358-3513)
- Ralf Degenhardt
- Z. Taghiyev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4139-3117)
- Dritan Useini
- Hassina Baraki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3938-6484)
- B Gahl
- Marcus Franz
Institutions
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE)
- University Hospital of Basel (CH)
- Kerckhoff Klinik (DE)
- Agaplesion Diakonieklinikum Rotenburg (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
- Published
- 2026-02-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2026.1776140
- Primary Topic
- Cardiac and Coronary Surgery Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00