**12. Coronary artery bypass surgery**

Approximately 10% of NSTEMI patients may require CABG during their index hospitalization [173]. The proportion of patient with NSTEMI undergoing CABG for NSTEMI decreased from 2001 to 2009, while the proportion of patients undergoing coronary angiography and PCI markedly increased [174]. CABG in the setting of NSTEMI is challenging mainly because of the difficulties in balancing ischemic and bleeding risks in relation to the timing of surgery and perioperative antithrombotic therapy. In addition, NSTEMI patients present with a higher proportion of surgical high-risk characteristics, including older age, female gender, left main coronary disease and LV dysfunction compared with patients undergoing elective CABG [175].
