Commentary on the joint "Guidelines on myocardial revascularization" of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)

In September 2010 the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) published joint guidelines on myocardial revascularization for the first time. The new guidelines promote an integrated approach to the management of ischemic heart disease. Based on currently available evidence the new guidelines elaborate interdisciplinary treatment concepts for conservative, catheter-based and surgical therapy. The guidelines address the indications for myocardial revascularization, the choice of bypass surgery versus catheter intervention as well as technical and pharmacological aspects of myocardial revascularization. This commentary intends to highlight important new aspects, to challenge critical issues and to address the implementation in the environment of the German healthcare system. New study results that appeared after publication of the guidelines are also considered.