Short- and long-term follow-up after coronary bypass grafting for single-vessel coronary artery disease

Short-term outcome and 10-year clinical outcome were reviewed in 114 consecutive patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for single-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Gated equilibrium radionuclide cineangiography was performed soon after CABG in all cases, and revealed very good early graft patency rates. There was no perioperative mortality, and very low morbidity. During follow-up there were seven late deaths, two from cardiac disease and five from non-cardiac causes. Cumulative survival at 10 years was 93%. Cumulative freedom from additional cardiac invasive procedures was 96%, 93% and 80% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively, and cumulative freedom from angina was 93%, 80% and 73%. Conventional single-vessel CABG thus can be safely performed, with minimal postoperative morbidity and no mortality, providing good long-term relief of angina and circumventing need for additional invasive procedures.     

Early results of mitral valve replacement.

Early results of mitral valve replacement were reviewed in 336 unselected patients, 261 without and 75 with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (MVR and MVR + CABG groups). Early (less than 30 days) mortality was 7% in the MVR and 16% in the MVR + CABG group, with cardiac failure as the dominant cause. In multivariate analysis, the variables most strongly related to early mortality were congestive heart failure, diabetes and previous cardiac surgery in the MVR group and congestive heart failure in MVR + CABG. In the cases with fatal outcome the incidence of peroperative technical complications was 32% at MVR and 17% at MVR + CABG. The incidence of myocardial injury was 21% and 35% in the respective groups, and the early mortality in these cases was 19% vs 23%. Half of all fatal cases showed signs of peroperative myocardial injury. Multivariate analysis showed factors independently related to myocardial injury to be year of surgery and aortic cross-clamp time in MVR and previous cardiac surgery in MVR + CABG. Operation before cardiac reserves are reduced, optimal peroperative myocardial preservation and avoidance of technical errors should improve results of MVR.     

冠状动脉旁路移植术1018例临床分析

目的总结、探讨冠状动脉搭桥术的外科技术及临床治疗效果。方法回顾分析1997—2004年同一术者完成的冠状动脉搭桥术1018例患者的临床资料,其中非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCAB)510例,体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术(CCABG)508例。≥60岁的患者582例(57.2%)。不稳定性心绞痛患者852例;术前同时合并其他疾病患者784例(77.0%),包括瓣膜病、高血压病、糖尿病、陈旧性心肌梗死、室壁瘤、室间隔穿孔、脑梗死、阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)、慢性肾功能不全、恶性肿瘤术后等。左主干病变156例;三支病变671例,三支病变以下347例。结果死亡4例(0.39%),总体并发症(胸骨哆开、脑梗死、纵隔炎)发生率1.6%(16/1018)。OPCAB者平均搭桥(2.5±0.4)支,CCABG者平均搭桥(3.3±0.6)支。左乳内动脉使用率93.8%(955/1018),术后早期使用主动脉内气囊反搏29例。全组随访2个月～7年,随访1002例(98.4%)。结论科学的外科策略,精湛的手术技术及麻醉、体外循环技术的改进,可使CABG术的死亡率和并发症明显下降,冠状动脉旁路移植术安全、可靠,效果满意。     

Importance of strict patient selection criteria for combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting

BackgroundManagement of patients with severe concomitant carotid and coronary disease remains controversial. We report our experience of combined carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) over a fifteen year period using strict patient selection criteria.MethodsFrom 1st January 1995 to December 31st 2009 165 patients underwent combined CABG/CEA procedures at the Mater Hospital. Mean age was 68.2 years (range 43–88) and 127 (77%) were male. Fifty-three (32%) had symptomatic carotid disease. Indications for combined procedures were the presence of symptomatic >70% or asymptomatic >80% internal carotid artery stenosis in a patient requiring urgent CABG because of either unstable angina, recent MI, severe triple vessel disease or severe Left Anterior Descending or Left Main Stem stenosis.ResultsThirty-day stroke and death rate was 3%. All neurological events were in the hemisphere contralateral to the carotid surgery and symptoms had completely resolved prior to discharge from hospital. One patient required evacuation of a cervical haematoma and there were two transient XII nerve palsies.ConclusionCombined CEA/CABG can be performed safely with acceptable morbidity and mortality in patients selected in accordance with strict criteria in a centre with a large experience of both cardiac and carotid surgery.     

Reoperation for coronary artery disease in the young: early and mid-term results

Background As the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) at young age is high in Asian countries, the number of coronary reoperations in this group of patients is increasing. The aim of this study was to define the incidence, risk factors and to discuss the methods of re-revascularization and early to mid-term outcomes in these patients. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of the data of patients who underwent primary coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) before the age of 45 years and underwent reoperation for recurrence of angina due to progression of native coronary artery disease and, or, graft occlusion. The data was also analyzed with regards to the risk factors contributing to the recurrence of the disease and the short to mid-term outcomes. During a six year period from January 1998 to October 2004, a total of 68 patients had reoperation for recurrence of angina. The mean interval of presentation following primary CABG was 12.48±3.11 years (ranged from 8 months to 16 years). Reoperation was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in 63 patients and in the remaining five patients on beating heart without using CPB. Results Reoperation accounted for 4.6% of 2478 patients who underwent CABG between January 1998 through October 2004 at our institute. Among these 114 patients, 68 patients underwent primary CABG before the age of 45 years. These 68 patients received a total of 214 grafts (3.14 grafts per patient) of which 169 grafts were re-anastamosed to previously grafted target arteries. Left internal mammary artery was used in 61 patients (89.7%) who required graft to left anterior descending coronary artery at reoperation. The early mortality was 4.4% (3 out of 68). Two patients (2.94%) had perioperative myocardial infarction and two more patients were re-explored for mediastinal bleeding. Freedom from recurrence of symptom of angina at 2 and 4 years was 98.01%, 94.5% respectively. Conclusions Redo CABG is associated with higher morbidity and mortality when compared to first-time CABG. Perioperative myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction contribute significantly to the increased risk of redo CABG.     

Coronary artery bypass grafting in the elderly: changing trends and results.

The subgroup of candidates age 75 and older for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is increasing. Changing demographics have also influenced current practice. Between January 1985 and December 1989, 1498 patients underwent CABG; 109 (7.3%) were 75 or older (mean 77.3, range 75-87). This increased from 4.0% in 1985 to 12.2% in 1989. Mortality was 9.2% (elective cases 7.6%, emergent 50%), early mortality (0-10 days) 3.7%, and late deaths (11-90 days) 5.5%. Early deaths were attributable to cardiac failure and late mortality resulted from noncardiac organ failure. Actuarial probability of survival was 86% at 33 months (range 11-68). Mortality was highest in concomitant valve replacement (18.8%), NYHC IV (13.0%), postoperative bleeding (11.8%), and emergent priority (50%). Average cost for hospitalization per patient was $27,183; average length of stay in the hospital was 21.3 days. Changing trends have had a positive impact on improved long-term survival and quality of life, justifying continued elective cardiac surgery in selected patients.     

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in dialysis patient

To determine the operative outcome of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) for severe coronary artery disease in long-term hemodialysis patients, we analyzed a group of 16 patients who underwent CABG over a ten-year period in our institution. Hospital mortality was 12.5% (2 of 16 patients). These two patients died of ischemic colitis and perioperative myocardial infarction, respectively. There were five late deaths: one patient died from myocardial infarction, one from uremia, one from gastro-intestinal bleeding, one from grastric cancer and one from unknown cause. There were four significant postoperative complications (morbidity 25%), consisted of one pulmonary tuberculosis, one sternal dehiscence secondary to mediastinitis, one mediastinal hematoma secondary to late bleeding from the LITA dissection area and one A-V shunt trouble. Graft patency rate within the first two months was 93% (30 to 42 in 13 patients). Hospital survivors experienced complete relief from angina. Actuarial survival was 68.8% at 3 years, 57.3% at 5 years and 28.6% at 7 years. This rate is not significantly different from the survival of all dialysis patients, but seems to be better than that of dialysis patients with not operated coronary artery disease. We concluded that CABG in dialysis patients can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity and mortality and effective relief of symptoms.     

Immediate and long-term results of coronary artery bypass operation in hemodialysis patients

This study evaluated the early and late results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients on long-term maintenance hemodialysis (chronic HD) at Teikyo University Ichihara Hospital between January 1996 and June 2000. Thirty-six patients on chronic HD underwent CABG. There were 26 males (72%) and 10 females (28%) ranging from 41 to 81 years (mean +/- SD, 61.8 +/- 9.2 years) of age. Twenty-one patients (58%) had unstable angina, 14 (39%) stable angina, and 1 acute myocardial infarction. Eleven patients (31%) had urgent or emergency CABG. The average graft number was 2.5 +/- 0.8 (arterial graft 1.3 +/- 0.7/patient). Six patients had concomitant cardiac operations. Three patients underwent re- or a second re-CABG. Five patients underwent off-pump CABG. Principally, HD was performed during cardiopulmonary bypass and was followed by continuous hemodiafiltration in the early postoperative period. The early mortality was 11%; 25% in emergency and urgent CABG and 4% in elective CABG. In the follow-up period between 1 and 53 months (mean +/- SD 21.9 +/- 15.1 months), 4 patients died, and 9 patients developed recurrence of angina pectoris (6, occlusion of saphenous vein graft and 3, native coronary progression). Six patients had coronary intervention. The postoperative angiogram showed that all arterial grafts were patent, but the patency of the vein grafts was only 61.5%. The early results of CABG in patients on chronic HD was satisfactory. The late recurrence of angina pectoris mostly was caused by occlusion of the saphenous vein graft. In conclusion, the aggressive use of arterial grafts is crucial in CABG for patients on chronic HD.     

Early results and characteristic problems associated with cardiac surgery in long-term dialysis patients

OBJECTIVE(S): To analyze early results and characteristic problems that develop after cardiac surgery on dialysis patients. METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients on maintenance dialysis underwent cardiac surgery. Their mean age was 63.5 +/- 9.7 years, and 87 (76%) were male. The causes of chronic renal failure were diabetes mellitus in 41 (36%) and chronic glomerulonephritis in 40 (35%). Patients had previously been on dialysis for a mean duration of 7.8 +/- 5.6 years (range; 0.25-24 years). RESULTS: Fourteen (12%) were emergent cases. Eighty six patients (75%) received isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and 10 patients underwent operations in which CABG was combined with other cardiac procedures. Twelve patients (14%) of the isolated CABG patient group (86 patients) were restricted to non-clamping bypass procedure due to severe calcification of the ascending aorta. Calcification score, which was represented by the sum of all involved coronary artery segments, was also significantly higher in dialysis patients than in the control group (4.5 +/- 2.4 segments vs. 1.5 +/- 2.1 segments, p < 0.05). Hospital mortality was 8.8% (10/114) overall, and 7% (6/86) in isolated CABG patients. The causes of deaths were as follows: intestinal necrosis in 3, arrhythmia in 2, cerebral infarction in 1, low output syndrome in 1, and sepsis in 3 (mediastinitis, pneumonia, and prosthetic valve infection). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term dialysis is a major risk factor in cardiac surgery. However, because the surgical results proved to be acceptable, long-term dialysis patients should not be denied cardiac surgery.     

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients who require long-term dialysis

BACKGROUND: Should coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) be performed in patients on long-term dialysis? This subject has been debated for several years. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who had CABG from August 1989 to October 1997. METHODS: We identified 70 patients who were on long-term dialysis and had CABG during that time period. Patients were evaluated by chart review and telephone survey. Forty-nine patients (70%) had unstable angina and 37 patients (52%) had triple vessel disease. Patient risk factors included 60 patients with hypertension (85%), 40 patients with diabetes mellitus (57%), 35 patients who had congestive heart failure (50%), 35 patients who had a previous myocardial infarction (50%), and 31 smokers (44%). Operative procedures included 49 patients who had CABG only and 21 patients who had concomitant CABG with valve replacement or repair. During the postoperative period, complications developed in 50% of patients. RESULTS: Review of these complications showed that 25% of patients required prolonged mechanical ventilation, and 10% of patients had septicemia. Operative mortality was high, with 10 patient deaths (14.3%) within 30 days of the procedure. Six (60%) of these deaths occurred in patients who had CABG and valve repair or replacement. Long-term follow up at 50.3 months showed no improvement in survival in patients who had CABG compared with the known mortality rate of 22% per year in dialysis patients regardless of comorbid conditions. Quality of life subjectively improved in only 41% of patients in follow-up telephone survey. CONCLUSIONS: Patients requiring long-term dialysis with coexistent severe cardiac disease should be thoroughly evaluated preoperatively. One must weigh the high morbidity and mortality risk against the limited long-term resolution of angina and ultimate survival.     

连续170例冠状动脉旁路移植术治疗冠心病

目的 回顾应用冠状动脉旁路移植术（ＣＡＢＧ）治疗冠心病的早期效果和经验。方法 １７０例（男１５２例,女１８例;年龄３５－８０岁,平均６６．７岁）冠心病病人中９７％为多支冠状动脉病变。８１例左室射血分数≤４５％,其中２１例〈３０％。８４％病人心绞痛ＣＣＳⅢ－Ⅳ级。除１例在左前外侧小切口非体外循环下手术,余均为正中开胸低温体外循环下ＣＡＢＧ。     

Cardiac surgery in octogenarians

BACKGROUND: Early and late results were studied in order to improve the indications for surgery in the elderly. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-seven patients aged 80 years or older underwent cardiac surgery between 1987 and 2001. The mean age of patients, which included 148 men and 89 women, was 82 years. Elective operations were performed in 194 patients and urgent or emergency operations in 43. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed in 104 patients, valve surgery in 60, CABG plus valve in 58, and other surgery in 15. Late results were obtained in 91% of patients, and the mean follow-up period was 54 months. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 9% in total; 7% in CABG, 5% in valve, 10% in CABG plus valve. Operative mortality was significantly higher in the urgent/emergency group than in the elective group (25% vs 6%). The actuarial survival rate for hospital survivors at 60 months after surgery was 75% and the mean survival period 76 months. There were no significant differences among operations. Preoperatively 81% of the patients had been in New York Heart Association class III or IV, and 88% of survivors were in class I or II in the late period. CONCLUSIONS: Early and late results for elective surgery in octogenarians are satisfactory. However, for urgent or emergent cases, there is a marked increase in morbidity and mortality.     

Impact of concomitant cardiac procedure on coronary artery surgery in hemodialysis-dependent patients

OBJECTIVE: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in hemodialysis-dependent patients is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. This retrospective study was undertaken to identify the risk factors for in-hospital mortality for hemodialysis-dependent patients. METHODS: Subjects included 87 consecutive hemodialysis-dependent patients (81 men and 6 women), aged 47-82 years (mean age, 65 years), who underwent CABG. Operative procedures included CABG alone (n=77) and CABG with valve replacement, repair, or the Dor procedure (n=10). Thirty-one perioperative risk factors were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the risk factors for hospital death. RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality rate, including operative death, was 14.9% (13/87). Univariate analysis showed the following 7 risk factors to be statistically significant predictors of hospital death: age > or = 70 years, a concomitant cardiac procedure, left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, left ventricular end-systolic volume index >70 ml/m2, a left main lesion, emergency/urgent surgery, and anemia (hemoglobin <10 mg/dl) (p<0.05 for each predictor). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that a concomitant cardiac procedure (chi-squared = 17.080, p=0.013) and age > or = 70 years (chi-squared = 9.112, p=0.019) are statistically significant independent risk factors for hospital death. CONCLUSION: A concomitant cardiac procedure and age > or = 70 years were identified as significant independent risk factors for hospital mortality after CABG for hemodialysis-dependent patients. These preoperative risk factors may help in predicting operative risks and improving clinical outcomes in hemodialysis-dependent patients undergoing CABG.     

Surgery for acute myocardial infarction

We discuss the current status and outcome of surgery for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The optimal timing of surgical revascularization following AMI is a matter of controversy. Early surgery after an AMI involves high risk If elective surgery is possible under mechanical cardiac support cardiac artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be performed with acceptable mortality rates early after AMI. On-pump beating heart revascularization is efficacious in patients in cardiogenic shock or with unstable hemodynamics early after AMI. For postinfarct ventricular septal perforation, an infarct exclusion technique is a standard surgical procedure. For an oozing-type postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture, a sutureless technique is effective. For papillary muscle rupture, emergent mitral valve replacement concomitant with CABG is recommended.     

Risk stratification analysis of operative mortality in coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the operative mortality of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery using risk stratification. METHODS: In 294 consecutive patients who underwent CABG with or without concomitant surgery from August 1994 to December 1999, we compared operative mortality calculated conventionally and by risk stratification. Scores for each patient were calculated using the Parsonnet additive model and stratified based on the probability of operative mortality. RESULTS: Overall crude hospital mortality was 4.8%-4.0% among patients younger than 80 years and 14% among those 80 years of age or older (p = 0.0692). Hospital mortality was 12% in urgent/emergency surgery, and 1.5% in elective surgery (p < 0.0002), and 4.5% in CABG alone and 7.4% in CABG with concomitant surgery (p = 0.3763), and 25% in patients receiving vein grafts only and 3.0% in those receiving at least 1 artery graft (p = 0.0003). Overall patient distribution was 32% good, 20% fair, 20% poor, 11% high-risk, and 16% extremely high-risk. Predicted mortality was 2.2% for patients who were a good risk, 6.7% for fair-risk, 12% for poor-risk, 16% for high-risk, and 25% for extremely high-risk patients. Actual operative mortality was 1.0% for good-risk, 0% for fair-risk, 3.4% for poor-risk, 6.3% for high-risk, and 18% for extremely high-risk patients, making actual mortality significantly lower than that predicted. CONCLUSION: Comparing predicted mortality and actual mortality enabled us to objectively calculate operative results and assess operative quality.     

Increased risk associated with combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a propensity-matched comparison with isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery

OBJECTIVE: Risk associated with combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CEA/CABG) is controversial. The present study objective was to compare morbidity and mortality outcomes in well-matched patients who underwent combined CEA/CABG surgery with patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery with and without a history of a prior CEA. DESIGN: This investigation was designed as a retrospective case-controlled study using data from the Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Patient Registry in a single tertiary institution. The patient population consisted of 1,698 isolated CABG surgery patients with carotid artery stenosis >40%, 708 patients who underwent an isolated CABG surgery but had a history of a prior CEA, and 272 combined CEA/CABG surgery patients who underwent surgery from January 4, 1993, through June 30, 2003. Propensity modeling techniques were used to calculate a propensity score for each patient. Greedy matching resulted in 272 propensity-matched pairs of combined CEA/CABG and isolated CABG patients (primary analysis) and 241 propensity-matched pairs of combined CEA/CABG surgery and isolated CABG surgery with previous CEA patients (secondary analysis). A Fisher exact, chi-square, Wilcoxon rank sum, and Student t test were applied appropriately to compare the propensity-matched pairs. RESULTS: The distribution of covariates among the propensity-matched combined CEA/CABG and isolated CABG groups were similar. Among the propensity-matched pairs in the primary analysis, overall morbidity and mortality were higher in the combined CEA/CABG group compared with the CABG group alone (overall morbidity 15% v 8.8%, p = 0.025, and mortality 5.2% v 1.1%, p = 0.007, respectively). Median intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay was longer (47 v 31 hours, p = 0.004) and hospital length of stay was longer (12 v 9 days, p < 0.001) for the combined CEA/CABG surgery compared with isolated CABG surgery, respectively. Postoperative cardiac, neurologic, serious infection, and renal morbid events were similar between the 2 groups. In the secondary analysis, the rates of mortality, overall morbidity, and neurologic morbidity were similar between the groups, whereas the median ICU and hospital length of stay were significantly longer in the combined CEA/CABG group (47.6 v 39.8 hours, p = 0.025, and 12.0 v 9.0 days, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Increased mortality and overall morbidity outcomes were found in the combined CEA/CABG group when compared with well-matched isolated CABG patients, but similar when compared with well-matched isolated CABG patients with a history of previous CEA. Patients undergoing combined CEA/CABG procedures had significantly longer ICU and hospital lengths of stay compared with patients undergoing isolated CABG procedures.     

中国冠状动脉旁路移植手术住院死亡危险因素分析

目的 分析影响中国冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)术后住院死亡的危险因素.方法 全国32家心脏外科中心2004-2005两年共行9247例CABG术.确定潜在危险因素后,根据潜在危险因素从临床资料中收集数据,最终数据分为生存组和住院死亡组,对影响住院死亡的潜在危险因素进行单因素分析和Logistic多因素回归分析,最终确立影响中国CABG住院死亡的危险因素,并对结果的校准度和分辨能力进行检验.结果 全组平均年龄(62.1 ±9.1)岁,女性占21.5%,冠脉三支病变占76.7%,左主干病变25.8%.总体住院病死率3.3%.Logistic多因素回归分析发现,年龄、肾衰史、慢性阻塞性肺疾病、既往心血管手术、不稳定型心绞痛、左心室射血分数、术前危重状态、非择期手术、合并其他手术为CABG住院死亡的独立危险因素.Hosnm-Lemeshow X2检验结果X2=2.987,P=0.935.受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积为0.75.结论 通过Logistic多因素回归分析,得出年龄、肾衰史、慢性阻塞性肺疾病、既往心血管手术、不稳定型心绞痛、左心室射血分数、术前危重状态、非择期手术、合并其他手术等9个因素为影响中国病人CABG住院死亡的独立危险因素.分析结果具有良好的校准度和分辨能力.     

Early results of aortic valve replacement with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting

Early results of aortic valve replacement were reviewed in 962 unselected patients, 659 without concomitant coronary bypass surgery (AVR group) and 303 with combined valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting (AVR + CABG). The early (less than 30-day) mortality was 4.6% in the AVR, and 5.9% in the AVR + CABG group. Multivariate analysis showed coronary artery stenoses and NYHA functional class to be independent predictors of early mortality in the AVR group, and the number of distal anastomoses as the strongest predictor in AVR + CABG. The incidence of peroperative technical complications in the cases with fatal outcome was 27% in the AVR and 6% in the AVR + CABG group. The incidence of myocardial injury (new Q wave or evidence of increased enzyme leakage) was 11% in AVR and 21% in AVR + CABG. Independent predictors of postoperative myocardial injury were aortic cross-clamp time, year of surgery, coronary artery stenoses and NYHA class in AVR and aortic cross-clamp time and year of surgery in AVR + CABG. The study suggests that coronary artery disease increases risk in aortic valve replacement with or without CABG. Replacement should be undertaken before endstage of the disease (NYHA IV), with CABG if significant coronary disease is present, and in multivessel disease the number of distal anastomoses should be restricted in order to shorten aortic cross-clamp time.     

The influence of age on the outcome of primary coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: With the steady increase in the number of elderly patients requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), scepticism still exists as to whether this operation is justified in older patients or not, and whether there is an upper age limit. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of increasing age on the outcome of CABG. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 2127 consecutive patients undergoing primary CABG from January 1990 through June 1996. The patients were arbitrarily divided into age groups: 69 years or less (n=1607), 70-75 years (n=371), 76-80 years (n=129) and older than 80 years (n=20). Mortality, morbidity and long-term survival for each group was compared. RESULTS: The groups containing the elderly patients showed an over-representation of women, as well as a higher frequency of arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, previous infarction and diabetes. More patients, amongst the elderly, had unstable angina and diffuse coronary disease requiring urgent surgery and coronary thrombendarterectomy compared to those <70 years. Hospital mortality did not differ between the groups, 1.8, 3.0, 2.3 and 5.0%. There was an increased incidence of low postoperative cardiac output and a higher incidence of gastro-intestinal complications amongst the elderly. The 5-year survival was 92.2% (<70 years), 87.0% (70-75 years) and 86.3% (76-80 years) and the cardiac event-free survival was 87.5% (<70 years), 78.4% (70-75 years) and 80.8% (76-80 years) at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: An acceptable early mortality and medium-term survival (5 years) together with excellent functional medium-term results support the justification of primary CABG in older patients irrespective of age.     

The descending branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery in arterial CABG: early and midterm results

BACKGROUND: Different arterial conduits have been used for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), avoiding remote cardiac events associated with graft failure and improving the quality and expectancy of life in patients with coronary artery disease. The goal of this study was to evaluate the early and midterm results of total arterial CABG with the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery (DLFCA). METHODS: Between February 1997 and December 2001, 147 patients underwent arterial CABG using the DLFCA at our department. The patients were followed to determine perioperative cardiac events. Angiographic follow-up controls were performed at the end of surgery in 81 patients (55.1%), within 1 year in 82 patients (55.7%), and within 3 years in 48 patients (32.6%). The actuarial survival and event-free rates, the occurrence of late cardiac events and death, the cumulative rate of the DLFCA graft patency, and the incidence of spasm were investigated. RESULTS: The DLFCA was used in all patients (113 men and 34 women, with a mean age of 56 +/- 12.6 years). The proximal anastomoses of the DLFCA was performed with the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in 95% and with the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) in 5% of patients. The distal anastomoses of the DLFCA was performed with the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in 3.5%, with the diagonal artery in 17%, with the intermedius ramus in 7.5%, with the posterior interventricular artery in 2%, and with the branch of circumflex artery in 70% of patients. The in-hospital mortality and morbidity rates were 0% and 7.4%, respectively. Complications related to DLFCA harvesting was transient dysesthesia of the thigh, observed in 6 patients (4%). No postoperative myocardial infarction attributable to DLFCA bypass was observed. During the late follow-up period of 22.09 +/- 16.8 months, cardiac events were observed in 14 patients (9.5%), including recurrence of angina in 6, arrhythmia requiring hospitalization in 4, congestive heart failure in 2, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in 1, and sudden death in 1 patient. Actuarial 1- and 3-year survival rates after surgery were 100% and 99.3%, respectively. Actuarial 1- and 3-year event-free rates were 97.3% and 90.5%, respectively. Actuarial 1- and 3-year patency rates were 97.5% and 93.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: No adverse effects were exhibited after CABG using the DLFCA graft in this early and midterm follow-up period. The excellent patency rate of DLFCA and the low incidence of spasm stimulate us to continue and extend the use of the DLFCA in CABG.