Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Remains the Standard of Care for Patients With Diabetes

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are proven effective treatments of coronary artery disease (CAD), however, the optimal revascularization strategy remains unclear in certain patient subsets. The recently published "Future Revascularization Evaluation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Optimal Management of Multivessel Disease (FREEDOM)" trial is a randomized study evaluating the use of CABG vs PCI in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary disease. The purpose of this editorial is to review the FREEDOM trial and the available literature guiding clinicians to make evidence-based decisions when treating diabetic patients with multivessel coronary disease. The current evidence suggests that CABG should remain the standard of care for this patient population.