Outcomes of left internal mammary artery with saphenous vein composite graft to bypass the left anterior descending artery: a propensity-matched study

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the early and mid-term outcomes of a novel strategy of using the in-situ left internal mammary artery (LIMA) with the great saphenous vein graft (SVG) to bypass the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).MethodsA total of 979 patients took part in this retrospective observational study; 83 patients were propensity-score matched to the LIMA + SVG group and 83 to the LIMA − LAD group. Early mortality, postoperative complications, mid-term major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were compared among the two matched groups after the procedure.ResultsNo significant differences in early mortality and postoperative complications rates were detected between the two matched groups. For mid-term outcomes, the incidence of MACCE was slightly higher in the LIMA + SVG group, but there was no significant statistical difference (14.9% vs. 12.8%, hazard ratio =1.20, 95% CI, 0.24 to 7.95; P=0.70) between the matched groups. Computed tomography coronary artery angiography (CTCA) images showed a LIMA + SVG composite graft patency rate of 94% (32/34) 25 months after the procedure.ConclusionsUsing the in situ LIMA with SVG to revascularize LAD was associated with comparable early and mid-term outcomes. These findings may provide an alternative emergency strategy when in situ LIMA cannot bypass LAD. Further study needs to be conducted to test longer-term outcomes.