Complete and incomplete revascularization at aortocoronary bypass surgery: experience with 392 consecutive patients

This report presents our experience with “complete” and “incomplete” revascularization in 392 consecutive patients undergoing aortocoronary artery bypass surgery. Patients were considered to have had “complete” revascularization only if all major coronary arteries with 70 per cent occlusion received at least one bypass graft. Patients were considered “incompletely” revascularized if any vessel with a 70 per cent or more occlusion did not receive at least one bypass graft. The “completely” revascularized cohort contained 186 patients and the “incompletely” revascularized cohort contained 206 patients. The survival of the “completely” and “incompletely” revascularized cohorts was compared postoperatively and at 6, 12, and 24 months using the Chi-square test. Relief of anginal pain rates were compared at 6, 12, and 24 months using the Chi-square test. Analyses were repeated after stratifying for number of vessels diseased. The subgroup with one vessel diseased was, by definition, “completely” revascularized. No significant difference in survival or relief of anginal pain was demonstrated in the total group or in subgroups with 2 and with 3 vessels diseased. The data indicate that “complete” revascularization is not closely coupled to two-year survival or relief of anginal pain.