[Coronary artery bypass surgery](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery “Wikipedia Article”) is more effective at extending the lives of patients with [severe coronary artery disease](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007115.htm “MedlinePlus Article”) than either [angioplasty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angioplasty “Wikipedia Article”) or [heart medications](http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsDrugs/DrugCats/HeartMedications.html “University of Maryland list of heart meds”).

Researchers analyzed the records of more than 18,000 patients who had at least one coronary artery that was more than 75 percent blocked and who received bypass surgery, angioplasty or heart medications at [Duke](http://www.duke.edu/medical.html “Duke Medical”) between 1986 and 2000.

Those who received bypass surgery lived an average of 5.3 months longer than those treated by angioplasty, the study said.

[Read](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_39679.html “Read the Story”) (HealthDay via MedlinePlus)