Analysis of factors influencing early patency of saphenous vein grafts

To determine factors affecting early patency of saphenous vein grafts, 140 grafts in 65 patients were studied angiographically within 2 months after operation. Twenty of the 140 grafts were occluded. Sixteen variables were extracted from the angiographic findings, intraoperative measurements, clinical characteristics, and biochemical data. The univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess their predictive value. Of 16 variables, 3 (coronary artery internal diameter, graft flow, and coronary artery resistance) correlated significantly with graft patency in the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis selected coronary artery resistance, coronary artery internal diameter, and degree of proximal stenosis as predictors of early graft patency. Of these 3 factors, the coronary artery resistance influenced graft patency mostly. Therefore, the coronary artery resistance was considered to be the most reliable predictor of early graft patency.