Stents and bypasses: Top doctor explains heart attack protection. Bypasses are considered particularly effective and safe, especially when several vessels are affected and the patient also suffers from diabetes.
Studies show that patients survive longer after bypass surgery than with stents. The risk of serious complications with both procedures is very low at three percent. To prevent the bypasses from closing, doctors prescribe three medications for life: ASA (aspirin), a beta blocker and a cholesterol-lowering drug (technical term statin)