Increased risk and decreased morbidity of coronary artery bypass grafting between 1986 and 1994

Impact of Obesity on Early In-Hospital Outcomes after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Recent advances in perioperative care have considerably improved outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, obesity can increase postoperative complication rates and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Between June 2011 and October 2019, a total of 1375 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) underwent cardiac surgery and were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: non-obese (body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2, n = 967) and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, n = 379). Underweight patients (n = 29) were excluded from the analysis. To compare the unequal patient groups, a propensity score-based matching (PSM) was applied (non-obese group (n = 372) vs. obese group (n = 372)). The mean age of the mentioned groups was 67 ± 10 (non-obese group) vs. 66 ± 10 (obese group) years, p = 0.724. All-cause in-hospital mortality did not significantly differ between the groups before PSM (p = 0.566) and after PSM (p = 0.780). The median length of ICU (p = 0.306 before PSM and p = 0.538 after PSM) and hospital stay (p = 0.795 before PSM and p = 0.131 after PSM) was not significantly higher in the obese group compared with the non-obese group. No significant differences regarding further postoperative parameters were observed between the unadjusted and the adjusted group. Obesity does not predict increased all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing CABG procedure. Therefore, CABG is a safe procedure for overweight patients.

Diabetics have Inferior Long-Term Survival and Quality of Life after CABG

A prevalence of diabetes is increasing among the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Data on whether health-related quality of life improves similarly after CABG in diabetics and nondiabetics are limited. We assessed long-term mortality and changes in quality of life (RAND-36 Health Survey) after CABG. Seventy-four of the 508 patients (14.6%) operated on in a single institution had a history of diabetes and were compared with nondiabetics. The RAND-36 Health Survey was used as an indicator of quality of life. Assessments were made preoperatively and repeated 1 and 12 years later. Thirty-day mortality was 2.7 versus 1.6 ( p  = 0.511) in the diabetics and nondiabetics. One- and 10-year survival rates in the diabetics and nondiabetics were 94.6% versus 97.0% ( p  = 0.287) and 63.5% versus 81.6% ( p  < 0.001), respectively. After 1 year, diabetics improved significantly ( p  < 0.005) in seven, and nondiabetics ( p  < 0.001) in all eight RAND-36 dimensions. Despite an ongoing decline in quality of life over the 12-year follow-up, an improvement was maintained in four out of eight dimensions among diabetics and in seven dimensions among nondiabetics. Physical and mental component summary scores on the RAND-36 improved significantly ( p  < 0.001) in both groups after 1 year, and at least slight improvement was maintained during the 12-year follow-up time. Diabetics have inferior long-term survival after CABG as compared with nondiabetics. They gain similar improvement of quality of life in 1 year after surgery, but they have a stronger decline tendency over the years.

Use of Cardiopulmonary Bypass in High-Risk Patients Is a Predictor of Adverse Outcome

High-risk patients experience substantially more compli cations after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We hypothesized that these patients are uniquely vulner able to cardiopulmonary bypass and compared postop erative outcomes between high-risk patients undergo ing off-pump CAB (OPCAB) and conventional CABG. Prospective provincial cardiac care registry and retro spective chart data were reviewed for 1,850 consecutive patients at our institution between January 1996 and January 1999. From this, 235 patients, 36 OPCAB and 199 CABG, were identified as high risk (modified Parson net score ≥15). Risk factor analysis showed the popula tions were equivalent in perioperative risk with mean modified Parsonnet scores of 18.1 ± 3.4 (OPCAB) and 18.7 ± 4.2 (CABG) (P = .4). In total, 6% of OPCAB and 40% of CABG patients suffered major complications leading to extended hospital/intensive care unit (ICU) stay or death ( P ≤ .001). Mean hospital stays were 7.0 ± 4.0 days (OPCAB) and 10.6 ± 10.2 days (CABG) ( P ≤ .001). Mean ICU stays were 23.9 ± 9.7 hours (OPCAB) and 64.9 ± 128.3 hours (CABG) ( P ≤ .001). Mortality was 0% in the OPCAB group and 6% in the CABG group (P = .2). Multivariate predictors of experiencing a major complication were: use of cardiopulmonary bypass (OR 5.1, 95 Cl 2.1-12.1), age > 80 (OR 2.5, 95 Cl 1.7-7.5), female (OR 3.0, 95 Cl 1.6-5.4), repeat operation (OR 2.5, 95 Cl 1.2-5.4), and ejection fraction <40% (OR 2.4, 95 Cl 1.2-4.7). Extracorporeal circulation is the most impor tant predictor of postoperative complications after CABG in high-risk patients. Off-pump surgery substantially reduces morbidity in this group, and further study of the protective effects of this emerging modality are war ranted.

Significance of Right Internal Thoracic Artery as Proximal Anastomotic Site

The efficacy of the right internal thoracic artery as the proximal anastomosis site in patients with a severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta was evaluated. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 5 patients in whom the right internal thoracic artery was selected as the proximal anastomotic site. The graft flow in the right internal thoracic artery plus saphenous vein or radial artery graft was 52 ± 34 mL·min−1 (range, 30 to 111 mL·min−1). The right internal thoracic artery was found to supply adequate graft flow even to the sequential graft, in each patient. The right internal thoracic artery should be kept in mind when it is difficult to determine the best site for a proximal anastomosis in patients with severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta.

Temporal trends in patient characteristics and outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement in the United States, 2006-2010. Results from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Registry

BACKGROUND

Contemporary patterns of use and outcomes of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in community practice settings are not well characterized. We assessed temporal trends in patient characteristics and outcomes among older patients undergoing primary prevention ICD therapy in US hospitals between 2006 and 2010.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's ICD Registry, we identified Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥65 years and older with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who underwent primary prevention ICD implantation, including those receiving concomitant cardiac resynchronization therapy between 2006 and 2010 and could be matched to Medicare claims. Outcomes were mortality and hospitalization (all-cause and heart failure) at 180 days, and device-related complications. We used multivariable hierarchical logistic regression to assess temporal trends in outcomes accounting for changes in patient, physician, and hospital characteristics. The cohort included 117 100 patients. Between 2006 and 2010, only modest changes in patient characteristics were noted. Fewer single lead devices and more cardiac resynchronization therapy devices were used over time. Between 2006 and 2010, there were significant improvements in all outcomes, including 6-month all cause mortality (7.1% in 2006, 6.5% 2010; adjusted odds ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.95), 6-month rehospitalization (36.3% in 2006, 33.7% in 2010; adjusted odds ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.91), and device-related complications (5.8% in 2006, 4.8% in 2010; adjusted odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical characteristics of this national population of Medicare patients undergoing primary prevention ICD implantation were stable between 2006 and 2010. Simultaneous improvements in outcomes suggest meaningful advances in the care for this patient population.

Quality of Care Within a Trauma Center Is not Altered by Injury Type

BACKGROUND

: Previous studies have demonstrated variations in severity-adjusted mortality between trauma centers. However, it is not clear if outcomes vary by the type of injury being treated.

METHODS

: National Trauma Data Bank was used to identify patients 16 years or older with moderate to severe injuries (Abbreviated Injury score > or =3) treated at level I or II trauma centers (n = 127,439 patients, 105 centers). Observed-to-Expected mortality ratios (O/E ratios, 95% confidence interval [CI]) were calculated for each trauma center within each of the three injury types: blunt multisystem (two or more body regions; n = 27,980; crude mortality, 15%), penetrating torso (neck, chest, or abdomen; n = 9,486; crude mortality, 9%), and blunt single system (n = 89,973; crude mortality 5%). Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for age, gender, mechanism, transfer status, and injury severity (Glasgow Coma Scale, blood pressure). For each injury type, trauma centers' performance was ranked as high (O/E with 95% CI <1), low (O/E with 95% CI >1), or average performers (O/E overlapping 1).

RESULTS

: Almost three quarters of the trauma centers achieved the same performance rank in each of the three injury categories. There were 14 low-performing trauma centers in blunt multisystem injuries, six in penetrating torso injuries, and nine in the blunt single system injuries group. None of these centers achieved high performance in any other type of injury.

CONCLUSIONS

: Risk-adjusted outcomes are consistent within trauma centers across different types of injuries, suggesting that quality improvement efforts should measure, analyze, and focus on hospital-wide systems of care, rather than on isolated quality domains related to specific types of injury.

Predicting adverse outcomes of cardiac surgery with the application of artificial neural networks

Risk-stratification models based on pre-operative patient and disease characteristics are useful for providing individual patients with an insight into the potential risk of complications and mortality, for aiding the clinical decision for surgery vs non-surgical therapy, and for comparing the quality of care between different surgeons or hospitals. Our study aimed to apply artificial neural networks (ANN) models to predict mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery, and also to compare the efficacy of this model to that of the logistic regression model and Parsonnet score. The accuracy of the ANN, logistic regression and Parsonnet score in predicting mortality was 83.8%, 87.9% and 78.4%. The accuracy of the ANN, logistic regression and Parsonnet score in predicting major morbidity was 79.0%, 74.3% and 68.6%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of the ANN, logistic regression and Parsonnet score in predicting in-hospital mortality were 0.873, 0.852 and 0.829. The AUCs of the ANN, logistic regression and Parsonnet score in predicting major morbidity were 0.852, 0.789 and 0.727. The results showed the ANN models have the best discriminating power in predicting in-hospital mortality and morbidity among these models.

Statin therapy improves outcomes after valvular heart surgery

BACKGROUND

The beneficial effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG Co-A) reductase inhibitors (statins) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting have been recognized. Reduced mortality rates and clinical events have been demonstrated. These outcomes were examined in patients taking statins who underwent cardiac valve operations.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 447 consecutive patients undergoing valve operations between July 2004 and February 2006; 203 patients (45.6%) received statins preoperatively and postoperatively vs 244 who did not. Preoperative risk factors and outcome data for both cohorts were compared. Primary outcomes included 30-day mortality, renal failure, and postoperative stroke.

RESULTS

The statin group had more comorbidities. Although they had increased risk factors, including previous stroke (30 of 203 vs 16 of 244, p = 0.004), diabetes (66 of 203 vs 32 of 244, p < 0.0001), cerebrovascular disease (45 of 203 vs 24 of 244, p = 0.003), and dyslipidemia (191 of 203 vs 63 of 244, p < 0.0001), they had better outcomes. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for the composite end point of death/stroke/renal failure was 1.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95 to 3.76; p = 0.068) favoring the statin group. By univariate analysis, the adjusted OR for the composite end point demonstrated a benefit with statin therapy: diabetes, 2.29 (95% CI, 1.16 to 4.71; p = 0.024); stroke, 2.15 (95% CI, 1.06 to 4.35; p = 0.034); and renal dysfunction, 2.05 (95% CI, 1.02 to 4.13; p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

Statin therapy in this population undergoing cardiac valve procedures was associated with decreased postoperative morbidity and death. The mechanism may be independent of statins' lipid-lowering effects. A prospective, randomized-control trial of statin therapy in this population is warranted.

Trauma quality improvement using risk-adjusted outcomes

PURPOSE

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program has improved the quality of surgical care by tracking risk-adjusted patient outcomes. Unlike the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, the trauma center verification program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) focuses on availability of optimal resources, not outcomes. We hypothesized that significant variations in outcomes exist across similar level ACS-verified trauma centers despite availability of similar resources.

METHODS

The National Trauma Data Bank was used to identify adult patients (age 16-99 years) who were treated at ACS-verified Level I trauma centers that submitted at least 1,000 patients during the 5-year study period (264,102 patients from 58 trauma centers, excluding dead upon arrival). Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze expected survival for each patient, adjusted for age, gender, race, injury mechanism, transfer status, and injury severity. Observed-to-expected survival ratios (O/E ratios with 95% confidence intervals) were used to rank trauma centers as high performers (O/E ratio significantly larger than 1), low performers (O/E ratio significantly less than 1), or average performers (O/E ratio overlapping 1).

RESULTS

Almost half the centers performed significantly different from their risk-adjusted expectation. Fourteen were high performers, 11 were low performers, and 33 were average performers.

CONCLUSIONS

The trauma center verification process in its present form may not ensure optimal outcome across all verified centers. If further validated, these findings suggest significant room for trauma quality improvement by replicating structures and processes of high performing trauma centers.

Brain natriuretic peptide is a good predictor for outcome in cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The heart secretes brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in response to myocardial stretch. The aim of this study was to determine whether adverse effects after cardiac surgery were associated with higher serum BNP levels pre-operatively.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-five patients undergoing various cardiac procedures were included in the study, and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP) was measured pre-operatively. Post-operative complications were defined as follows: (i) a post-operative length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) exceeding 48 h; (ii) mortality at 28 days; (iii) the need for inotropic agents and/or intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP); and (iv) renal failure. Serum NT-pro-BNP values were compared for patients with and without complications. The serum NT-pro-BNP level was also correlated with the euroSCORE and ejection fraction (EF).

RESULTS

Pre-operative serum NT-pro-BNP levels were significantly higher in patients with an ICU length of stay of more than 2 days or death prior to post-operative day 28 (3118 ng/l vs. 705 ng/l; P < 0.001). Pre-operative serum NT-pro-BNP levels were also significantly higher in patients needing inotropic agents (2628 ng/l vs. 548 ng/l; P < 0.001) or IABP insertion (3705 ng/l vs. 935 ng/l; P = 0.001) or developing renal failure (2857 ng/l vs. 945 ng/l; P < 0.001) post-operatively. The correlation between the serum NT-pro-BNP level and euroSCORE was good (r = 0.658; P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the ability of serum NT-pro-BNP, euroSCORE and EF to predict outcome after cardiac surgery. This revealed an area under the ROC curve for the length of stay in the ICU or mortality at 28 days of 0.829 for serum NT-pro-BNP, 0.814 for euroSCORE and 0.328 for EF assessed by transesophageal echocardiography, indicating that the pre-operative serum NT-pro-BNP level is a good prognostic indicator for outcome after cardiac surgery.

CONCLUSION

Serum NT-pro-BNP is a good predictor for complications after cardiac surgery, and is as good as euroSCORE and better than EF.

Prediction for Major Adverse Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery: Comparison of Three Prediction Models

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Recent advances in medical treatment have altered the profile of patients referred for cardiac surgery. The proportion of high risk patients has increased dramatically. Numerous multifactorial risk scores have been developed to predict outcomes after cardiac surgery. However, these additive risk models were all developed outside of Asia and have never been validated in Taiwan. We applied the Parsonnet score, Tu score and logistic regression to a population in Taiwan who received cardiac surgery to predict the mortality, morbidity and likelihood of prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 622 adult patients who received cardiac surgery during a 2-year period at Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The patients were randomly divided into a reference set (n = 423) and a validation set (n = 199). The Parsonnet score and Tu score were calibrated separately with the reference set to determine mortality, morbidity and likelihood of prolonged ICU stay. We developed a separate logistic regression model for each of the three outcomes by using the reference set. The validation set was used to test these models.

RESULTS

The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the Parsonnet score, Tu score and logistic regression for predicting in-hospital mortality were 0.843, 0.714 and 0.867, respectively. The AUC of the Parsonnet score, Tu score and logistic regression for predicting major morbidity were 0.784, 0.736 and 0.808, respectively. The AUC of the Parsonnet score, Tu score and logistic regression for predicting likelihood of prolonged ICU stay were 0.701, 0.689 and 0.764, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The Parsonnet score performed as well as the logistic regression models in predicting major adverse outcomes. The Parsonnet score appears to be a very suitable model for clinicians to use in risk stratification of cardiac surgery.

Feasibility of percutaneous coronary interventions in early postcoronary artery bypass graft occlusion or stenosis

BACKGROUND

With continuing technical advances in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for coronary artery disease (CAD), patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) often have complex coronary anatomy that is not ideal for PCI. Because of the complex anatomy, these patients have a higher risk of early graft occlusion. The feasibility of PCI in the treatment of early graft occlusion is not well established.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of patients presenting with recurrent ischemia within three months post-CABG and at one-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients with 156 grafts were identified. Three presented with STEMI, 21 with NSTEMI, 21 with unstable angina, and one with congestive heart failure. Sixty-three grafts were occluded or stenosed (>70%). Twenty-seven grafts (43%) in 17 patients were not amenable to PCI. The other 34 grafts (54%) in 23 patients underwent successful PCI. PCI was performed upon native vessels and occluded grafts with equal frequency. Six patients had patent grafts. At one-year follow-up, six of 23 patients in the PCI group were readmitted with ischemia; five vessels (14%) in four patients had restenosed. There were no deaths. In the group with no PCI, 11 of 23 patients were readmitted with ischemia with one death.

CONCLUSION

PCI for early post-CABG occlusion was safely performed in slightly more than half of target vessels. PCI was performed upon native vessels and occluded grafts with equal frequency. After initial PCI success, the clinical target vessel restenosis rate was 14% at one-year follow-up.

Impact of Obesity on Outcome and Changes in Quality of Life After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

BACKGROUND

An increasing proportion of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are obese and are thought to carry a higher mortality and morbidity in association with surgery, but data on whether health-related quality of life (QOL) improves similarly after CABG in obese and non-obese patients are limited. We assessed in detail the effect of obesity on changes in health-related QOL (RAND-36 Health Survey) during the first year following CABG.

METHODS

Comprehensive data on 508 CABG patients were prospectively collected. One hundred patients (19.7%) were categorized as obese (body mass index >or= 30 kg/m(2)). The RAND-36 Health Survey was used as an indicator of quality of life. Assessments were made preoperatively and repeated 12 months later.

RESULTS

The obese group fared significantly worse than the non-obese group with regard to the likelihood of superficial wound infection (19.0% versus 7.1%, P < 0.001), impaired renal function (31.7% versus 14.4%, P = 0.01), and required on average 2 days longer in hospital (P < 0.05). The incidence of mediastinitis was not significantly higher among the obese patients (2.0% versus 1.2%, P = 0.55), and they less frequently needed postoperative red cell transfusions (29.0% versus 44.9%, P = 0.004). The obese improved significantly (P < 0.001) in 7, and the non-obese (P < 0.001) in all 8 RAND-36 dimensions. Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scores on the RAND-36 improved significantly (P < 0.001) in obese as well as in non-obese patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although obese patients differ from non-obese patients in that they had inferior QOL before and in the year following CABG, they gain a similar improvement in QOL 1 year after surgery compared with non-obese patients. Excluding superficial wound infection, transient impaired renal function, and slightly longer hospital stay, obesity does not significantly increase the risk of other adverse outcomes during the first year following CABG.

Left internal mammary artery usage in coronary artery bypass grafting: a measure of quality control

INTRODUCTION

Over the last two decades, many studies have shown better long-term patency rates and survival in patients under-going coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). World-wide, LIMA is accepted as the 'gold standard' for surgical revascularisation and its usage has been steadily increasing.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between April 1997 and September 2001, a total of 4406 consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with revascularisation to the left anterior descending artery.

RESULTS

Of the study group, 4047 (91.8%) patients received LIMA to LAD, leaving 359 (8.2%) who did not. Six sub-groups of patients in whom LIMA usage was significantly less were the elderly (> 70 years of age), females, diabetics, patients having emergency CABG, poor left ventricular (LV) function (ejection fraction [EF] < 30%) and patients with respiratory disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the current focus in the UK is on mortality rates, we believe that it will not be long before this will also include the incidence of major morbidity after CABG such as stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), renal failure and sternal wound problems. We also believe that we should now consider LIMA usage as a marker of quality control after CABG.

Magnesium as a neuroprotectant in cardiac surgery: A randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate magnesium as a neuroprotectant in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODS

From February 2002 to September 2003, 350 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery, or both were enrolled in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial to receive either magnesium sulfate to increase plasma levels 1(1/2) to 2 times normal during cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 174) or no intervention (n = 176). Neurologic function, neuropsychologic function, and depression were assessed preoperatively, at 24 and 96 hours after extubation (neurologic) and at 3 months (neuropsychologic, depression). Neurologic scores were analyzed using ordinal longitudinal methods, and neuropsychologic and depression inventory data were summarized by principal component analysis, followed by linear regression analysis using component scores as response variables.

RESULTS

Seven (2%) patients had a postoperative stroke, 2 (1%) in the magnesium and 5 (3%) in the placebo group (P = .4). Neurologic score was worse postoperatively in both groups (P < .0001); however, magnesium group patients performed better than placebo group patients (P = .0001), who had prolonged declines in short-term memory and reemergence of primitive reflexes. Three-month neuropsychologic performance and depression inventory score were generally better than preoperatively, with few differences between groups (P > .6); however, older age (P = .0006), previous stroke (P = .003), and lower education level (P = .0007) were associated with worse performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnesium administration is safe and improves short-term postoperative neurologic function after cardiac surgery, particularly in preserving short-term memory and cortical control over brainstem functions. However, by 3 months, other factors and not administration of magnesium influence neuropsychologic and depression inventory performance.

Preoperative statin treatment is associated with reduced postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: An 8-year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cardiac surgical procedures can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, it has been recognized that statins might induce multiple biologic effects independent of lipid lowering that could potentially ameliorate adverse surgical outcomes. Accordingly, this study tested the central hypothesis that pretreatment with statins before cardiac surgery would reduce adverse postoperative surgical outcomes.

METHODS

Demographic and outcomes data were collected retrospectively for 3829 patients admitted for planned cardiac surgery between February 1994 and December 2002. Statin pretreatment occurred in 1044 patients who were comparable with non-statin-pretreated (n = 2785) patients with regard to sex, race, and age. Primary outcomes examined included postoperative mortality (30-day) and a composite morbidity variable.

RESULTS

The odds of experiencing 30-day mortality and morbidity were significantly less in the statin-pretreated group, with unadjusted odds ratios of 0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.66) and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.61-0.86), respectively. Risk-adjusted odds ratios for mortality and morbidity were 0.55 (95% CI, 0.32-0.93) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.62-0.94), respectively, by using a logistic regression model and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.27-0.94) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.55-0.92), respectively, in the propensity-matched model, demonstrating significant reductions in 30-day morbidity and mortality. In a subsample of patients undergoing valve-only surgery (n = 716), fewer valve-only patients treated with statins experienced mortality, although these results were not statistically significant (1.96% vs 7.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that statin pretreatment before cardiac surgery confers a protective effect with respect to postoperative outcomes.

Hemodynamic management of patients in the first 24 hours after cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To describe the physiologic alterations, evaluation, and hemodynamic management of patients in the first 24 hrs after cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

A brief review of preoperative and intraoperative events, postoperative physiology, and a discussion of the evaluation and hemodynamic management of cardiac surgery patients postoperatively based on a review of the literature, known physiology, and clinical experience.

RESULTS

After cardiac surgery, patients undergo alterations in cardiac performance related to co-morbid conditions, preoperative myocardial insults and interventions, the surgical procedure, and intraoperative management. Predictable responses evolve rapidly in the first 24 hrs after surgery. Monitoring, diagnostic regimens, and therapeutic regimens exist to address the patterns of response and occasional complications.

CONCLUSION

By understanding preoperative and intraoperative events and their evolution in the intensive care unit, clinicians can effectively manage patients who experience cardiac surgery.

Public disclosure of surgeon-specific report cards: current status of the debate

Clinical report cards are at the centre of an escalating debate on ways in which the performance of hospitals and individual doctors can be monitored. Report cards are a method of publishing outcome data that can be focused on a particular hospital, clinical unit, or an individual doctor. Following the public disclosure of results of individual cardiac surgeons in New York State, USA, and the recent Inquiry into paediatric cardiac surgical deaths at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK, there is increasing focus on the possibility of the introduction of report cards in Australia. At present, the increasing momentum and implementation of report cards is focused squarely on surgeons, and particularly on cardiac surgeons. This review outlines the events in the USA and UK and looks into the possible impact of the introduction of report cards in Australia.

Coronary artery bypass surgery in high-risk patients

Background

In high-risk coronary artery bypass patients; off-pump versus on-pump surgical strategies still remain a matter of debate, regarding which method results in a lower incidence of perioperative mortality and morbidity. We describe our experience in the treatment of high-risk coronary artery patients and compare patients assigned to on-pump and off-pump surgery.

Methods

From March 2002 to July 2004, 86 patients with EuroSCOREs > 5 underwent myocardial revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were assigned to off-pump surgery (40) or on-pump surgery (46) based on coronary anatomy coupled with the likelihood of achieving complete revascularization.

Results

Those patients undergoing off-pump surgery had significantly poorer left ventricular function than those undergoing on-pump surgery (28.6 ± 5.8% vs. 40.5 ± 7.4%, respectively, p < 0.05) and also had higher Euroscore values (7.26 ± 1.4 vs. 12.1 ± 1.8, respectively, p < 0.05). Differences between the two groups were nonsignificant with regard to number of grafts per patient, mean duration of surgery, anesthesia and operating room time, length of stay intensive care unit (ICU) and rate of postoperative atrial fibrillation

Conclusion

Utilization of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) does not confer significant clinical advantages in all high-risk patients. This review suggest that off-pump coronary revascularization may represent an alternative approach for treatment of patients with Euroscore ≥ 10 and left ventricular function ≤ 30%.

Effect of Diabetes on Outcome and Changes in Quality of Life After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

BACKGROUND

An increasing proportion of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting are diabetics who are known to carry a higher mortality and morbidity in association with operation, but data on whether health-related quality of life improves similarly after coronary artery bypass grafting in diabetic and nondiabetic patients are limited. We assessed in detail changes in health-related quality of life (RAND-36 Health Survey) during the first year after coronary artery bypass grafting.

METHODS

Seventy-four of the 508 patients (14.6%) operated on in a single institution had a history of diabetes and were compared to nondiabetics. The RAND-36 Health Survey was used as an indicator of quality of life. Assessments were made preoperatively and repeated 12 months later.

RESULTS

Thirty-day mortality was 2.7% versus 1.6% (p = 0.511) and one-year survival was 94.6% versus 97.0% (p = 0.287) in the diabetics and nondiabetics, respectively. Diabetics improved significantly (p < 0.005) in seven, nondiabetics (p < 0.001) in all eight RAND-36 dimensions. Physical component summary and mental component summary scores on the RAND-36 improved significantly (p < 0.001) in diabetics as well as in nondiabetics. Both groups experienced closely similar freedom from anginal symptoms at one year (86.2% vs 90.5%, p = 0.280).

CONCLUSIONS

Although diabetic patients differ from nondiabetics having slightly inferior quality of life before and one year after coronary artery bypass grafting, they gain similar improvement of quality of life in one year after surgery when compared to nondiabetics.

Postoperative Pulmonary Dysfunction in Adults After Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Clinical Significance and Implications for Practice

Postoperative pulmonary complications are the most frequent and significant contributor to morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with hospitalization. Interestingly, despite the prevalence of these complications in cardiac surgical patients, recognition, diagnosis, and management of this problem vary widely. In addition, little information is available on the continuum between routine postoperative pulmonary dysfunction and postoperative pulmonary complications. The course of events from pulmonary dysfunction associated with surgery to discharge from the hospital in cardiac patients is largely unexplored. In the absence of evidence-based practice guidelines for the care of cardiac surgical patients with postoperative pulmonary dysfunction, an understanding of the pathophysiological basis of the development of postoperative pulmonary complications is fundamental to enable clinicians to assess the value of current management interventions. Previous research on postoperative pulmonary dysfunction in adults undergoing cardiac surgery is reviewed, with an emphasis on the pathogenesis of this problem, implications for clinical nursing practice, and possibilities for future research.

Coronary surgery in patients with peripheral vascular disease: effect of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of patients with peripheral vascular disease are undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Such patients have an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Our aim was to quantify the effect of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass in this group of patients.

METHODS

Between April 1997 and March 2002, 3,771 consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting performed by five surgeons. Four hundred and twenty-two (11.2%) had peripheral vascular disease and of these, 211 (50%) received off-pump surgery. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the effect of off-pump surgery on in-hospital mortality and morbidity, while adjusting for treatment selection bias. Treatment selection bias was controlled for by constructing a propensity score, which was the probability of receiving off-pump surgery and included core patient characteristics. The C statistic for this model was 0.8.

RESULTS

Off-pump patients were more likely to have preoperative renal dysfunction, previous gastrointestinal surgery, and less extensive disease. The left internal mammary artery was used more in off-pump compared to on-pump cases (90.1% vs 82.9%; p = 0.033). In the univariate analyses, off-pump patients were less likely to have a postoperative stroke (p = 0.007), and had shorter postoperative hospital stays (p < 0.001). However, the incidence of new atrial arrhythmia was higher (p = 0.028). After adjustment for differences in case-mix (propensity score), avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass was still associated with a significant reduction in postoperative stroke (adjusted odds ratio 0.09 [95% confidence interval 0.02 to 0.50]; p = 0.005), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Off-pump coronary surgery is safe in patients with peripheral vascular disease, with acceptable results. The incidence of postoperative stroke is substantially reduced when avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

High risk coronary artery bypass patient: incidence, surgical strategies, and results

BACKGROUND

To describe our experience in the treatment of high risk coronary artery bypass patients and compare patients assigned to on-pump or off-pump surgery.

METHODS

During a 42-month period 306 high risk (Euroscore > 5) coronary artery bypass patients were consecutively treated at our institution. On the basis of the coronary anatomy and possibility of achieving a complete revascularization, 197 patients were assigned to off-pump and 109 to on-pump operation. Overall mortality was 6.2% (19 of 306 patients).

RESULTS

Although patients treated off-pump had a better cardiac status, no clinical advantages related to the avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass were found in the overall population. Off-pump patients had more early and late cardiac complications, whereas patients operated on-pump exhibited an higher incidence of postoperative systemic organ dysfunction. Off-pump surgery improved in-hospital outcome only in the subset of patients at highest risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass does not confer significant clinical advantages in all high risk coronary patients; instead, there are particular subsets of patients in whom beating heart surgery can be particularly indicated and others for whom on-pump revascularization appears a better solution. Adaptation of the operation to the single patient is probably the way to improve outcome.

Retroinfusion-supported stenting in high-risk patients for percutaneous intervention and bypass surgery: Results of the prospective randomized myoprotect I study

The objective of this study was to assess event-free survival and total treatment costs of retroinfusion-supported stenting in high-risk patients compared to bypass surgery. An increasing number of patients with main-stem and main-stem-equivalent stenosis are treated by stent implantation, which appears to be safe in the short-term follow-up. However, there is a lack of randomized studies comparing conventional bypass surgery with stent implantation, particularly in patients with high risk for both treatments. We here report on the 1-year results of a prospective randomized single-center study in patients with symptomatic main-stem and main-stem-equivalent lesions with substantially increased risk for bypass surgery. Patients where randomized to undergo either percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty/stent procedure (n = 23) or bypass surgery (n = 21). Patients randomized to stent implantation were supported by selective pressure-regulated retroinfusion of the anterior cardiac vein during ischemia. Patients of the stent group and the bypass group did not differ in baseline characteristics, including Parsonnet score and quality-of-life score. Twenty-eight-day mortality and 1-year mortality rate as well as quality-of-life scores were similar in both groups. Event-free survival after 1 year was higher in the bypass group (71.4% vs. 52.3%; P = 0.02) due to a lower target lesion revascularization rate. With regard to total treatment costs, however, the stent group compared favorably to the bypass group (9,346 +/- 807 vs. 26,874 +/- 3,985 euro), predominantly as a result of a shorter intensive care and hospital stay. In this first randomized study in high-risk patients for stent implantation and bypass surgery, patients with retroinfusion-supported stent implantation had a similar 1-year outcome and quality of life compared to patients with bypass surgery. Though in the stent group event-free survival was lower and target lesion revascularization rate was higher, retroinfusion-supported stent implantation was associated with substantially lower costs and might be considered as an alternative treatment option in this selected group of high-risk patients.

Mortality and recurrent cardiac events after coronary artery bypass graft: long term outcomes in a population study

OBJECTIVE

To determine 30 day mortality, long term survival, and recurrent cardiac events after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in a population.

DESIGN

Follow up study of patients prospectively entered on to a cardiothoracic surgical database. Record linkages were used to obtain data on readmissions and deaths.

PATIENTS

8910 patients undergoing isolated first CABG between 1980 and 1993 in Western Australia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

30 day and long term survival, readmission for cardiac event (acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or reoperative CABG).

RESULTS

There were 3072 deaths to mid 1999. 30 day and long term survival were significantly better in patients treated in the first five years than during the following decade. The age of the patients, proportion of female patients, and number of grafts increased over time. An urgent procedure (odds ratio 3.3), older age (9% per year) and female sex (odds ratio 1.5) were associated with increased risk for 30 day mortality, while age (7% per year) and a recent myocardial infarction (odds ratio 1.16) influenced long term survival. Internal mammary artery grafts were followed by better short and long term survival, though there was an obvious selection bias in favour of younger male patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows worsening crude mortality at 30 days after CABG from the mid 1980s, associated with the inclusion of higher risk patients. Older age, an acute myocardial infarction in the year before surgery, and the use of sephenous vein grafts only were associated with poorer long term survival and greater risk of a recurrent cardiac event. Female sex predicted recurrent events but not long term survival.

Current Issues Affecting Critical Care Practice

Internal and external forces continue to impact the practice of critical care medicine. Contracting for purchase of hospital services will soon be guided by the presence or absence of specific hospital attributes, including computerized physician order entry, evidence-based hospital referral, and the staffing model for intensive care unit care. The Leapfrog group, a consortium of health care purchasers, prefers to contract with hospitals that have implemented full-time intensive care unit physician staffing. This requirement is likely to increase the demand for critical care specialists. Personnel shortages are already apparent in critical care nursing and are expected to occur with physician specialists as well. Other current issues include the demand for increasingly detailed information on intensive care unit outcomes, a focus on patient safety, and cost control.

Multi-organ renal failure in the elderly

Periodically the question is posed "Why the persistently high mortality in acute renal failure?". By 1986, little progress seemed to have been made in improving outcome and it was stated that once oliguria was resistant to volume replacement and cardiac support, the patient had at best only a 50% chance of surviving. During the period 1960-1985, it can be shown that although outcome was not improving, older and sicker patients were being treated. Reviewing the literature of the past decade, the age and case mix of patients appears stable, but there is no suggestion of improvement in outcome. ARF with sepsis continues to have a mortality of 65 to 80%, and the outcome remains poor in elderly patients with failure of two or more organs. Progress has been slow in Intensive Care Units, and the past 20 years has seen little more than a move away from parenteral towards enteral feeding. Recent advances, however, in ventilatory techniques and the use of supra-physiological doses of glucocorticoids may lead to some improvement in outcome.

Coronary bypass in left heart failure

Clinical experience is accumulating that coronary artery bypass grafting is of great benefit in patients with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy. At Yale University, we have analyzed short- and long-term results in 188 consecutive patients with an ejection fraction (EF) of 30% or less undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting by a single surgeon. This experience permits the following conclusions: (1) Surgery can be performed safely (mortality 2.8% in elective patients); (2) Major improvement in left ventricular (LV) function is objectively demonstrable (EF change from 23.3% to 33.2%); (3) Symptomatic improvement is noted by patients (NYHA class change from 3.1 to 1.4); and (4) Good long-term survival is realized, relative to expectations with medical management alone (88%, 77%, and 60% at 1, 3, and 5 years). If coronary artery disease is severe and proximally situated and there are adequate target arteries, we do not deny patients surgery based on EF or LV size criteria, nor do we require objective demonstration of reversible ischemia. In fact, hearts in the largest size range (left ventricular end-systolic volume index > 100 mL) actually showed beneficial reverse remodeling subsequent to coronary artery bypass grafting. Surgical revascularization is recommended strongly for patients with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy. Results rival those of transplantation.

Carotid artery disease and stroke during coronary artery bypass: a critical review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

to determine the role of carotid artery disease in the pathophysiology of stroke after coronary artery bypass (CABG).

DESIGN

systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

the risk of stroke after CABG was 2% and remained unchanged between 1970-2000. Two-thirds occurred after day 1 and 23% died. 91% of screened CABG patients had no significant carotid disease and had a <2% risk of peri-operative stroke. Stroke risk increased to 3% in predominantly asymptomatic patients with a unilateral 50-99% stenosis, 5% in those with bilateral 50-99% stenoses and 7-11% in patients with carotid occlusion. Significant predictive factors for post-CABG stroke included; (i) carotid bruit (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.8-4.6), (ii) prior stroke/TIA (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.7-4.9) and (iii) severe carotid stenosis/occlusion (OR 4.3, 95% CI 3.2-5.7). However, the systematic review indicated that 50% of stroke sufferers did not have significant carotid disease and 60% of territorial infarctions on CT scan/autopsy could not be attributed to carotid disease alone.

CONCLUSIONS

carotid disease is an important aetiological factor in the pathophysiology of post-CABG stroke. However, even assuming that prophylactic carotid endarterectomy carried no additional risk, it could only ever prevent about 40-50% of procedural strokes.

Surgical Approaches to Coronary Artery Disease

In this rapidly evolving era of coronary surgery, technologic advances have allowed the development of new myocardial revascularization strategies. Although conventional coronary artery bypass grafting is being challenged by other promising surgical procedures such as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, it remains the gold standard in patients with multivessel disease. Accurate evaluations of these new procedures are ongoing to assess their effectiveness and to define their role in the armamentarium of myocardial revascularization.

A decade of change--risk profiles and outcomes for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures, 1990-1999: a report from the STS National Database Committee and the Duke Clinical Research Institute. Society of Thoracic Surgeons

BACKGROUND

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Adult Cardiac Database is the largest voluntary clinical database in medicine. Using this database we examined changes in the risk profile of patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and their outcomes during the decade 1990 to 1999.

METHODS

Trends in 23 preoperative risk factors were tracked for CABG cases during this decade. Using a multivariate logistic risk model, we also determined the degree to which operative risk and risk-adjusted operative mortality changed during this 10-year interval.

RESULTS

Between 1990 and 1999, 1,154,486 patient records were harvested by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Adult Cardiac Database for isolated CABG procedures performed at 522 Society of Thoracic Surgeons participant sites in the United States and Canada. Over time, CABG patients were more likely to be older (mean age 63.7 in 1990, 65.1 in 1999), of female gender (25.7% women in 1990, 28.7% in 1999), and have a history of smoking, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, hypertension, stroke, chronic lung disease, New York Heart Association functional class IV, and three-vessel disease (p < 0.0001). Patients' predicted operative risk increased by 30.1%, from 2.6% in 1990 to 3.4% in 1999. Despite higher risk, observed operative mortality decreased by 23.1%, from 3.9% in 1990 to 3.0% in 1999 (p < 0.0001). During the decade, a Medicare-aged subset (n = 629,174) experienced similar increases in risk and declines in mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients referred for isolated CABG are significantly older, sicker, and have a higher risk than a decade ago. Despite this, CABG mortality rates have declined substantially. These results highlight the excellent progress in the care of CABG patients achieved during the past decade.

Intraoperative metabolic monitoring of the heart: I. Clinical assessment of coronary sinus metabolites

Numerous clinical studies have corroborated the ability of intraoperative sampling of coronary sinus blood to measure changes in myocardial metabolism induced by ischemia and reperfusion. Among other changes, cardiac arrest induces a period of obligate myocardial lactate production that persists for an indeterminate amount of time after reperfusion. Coronary sinus lactate assays have been established as a standard method to compare various myocardial protection strategies. Current methodology requires detailed sample processing, precluding real-time feedback in the operating room. Newer devices hold promise in allowing the online assessment of myocardial metabolism; however, these methods await precise validation.

Cardiac surgery report cards: comprehensive review and statistical critique

Public report cards and confidential, collaborative peer education represent distinctly different approaches to cardiac surgery quality assessment and improvement. This review discusses the controversies regarding their methodology and relative effectiveness. Report cards have been the more commonly used approach, typically as a result of state legislation. They are based on the presumption that publication of outcomes effectively motivates providers, and that market forces will reward higher quality. Numerous studies have challenged the validity of these hypotheses. Furthermore, although states with report cards have reported significant decreases in risk-adjusted mortality, it is unclear whether this improvement resulted from public disclosure or, rather, from the development of internal quality programs by hospitals. An additional confounding factor is the nationwide decline in heart surgery mortality, including states without quality monitoring. Finally, report cards may engender negative behaviors such as high-risk case avoidance and "gaming" of the reporting system, especially if individual surgeon results are published. The alternative approach, continuous quality improvement, may provide an opportunity to enhance performance and reduce interprovider variability while avoiding the unintended negative consequences of report cards. This collaborative method, which uses exchange visits between programs and determination of best practice, has been highly effective in northern New England and in the Veterans Affairs Administration. However, despite their potential advantages, quality programs based solely on confidential continuous quality improvement do not address the issue of public accountability. For this reason, some states may continue to mandate report cards. In such instances, it is imperative that appropriate statistical techniques and report formats are used, and that professional organizations simultaneously implement continuous quality improvement programs. The statistical methodology underlying current report cards is flawed, and does not justify the degree of accuracy presented to the public. All existing risk-adjustment methods have substantial inherent imprecision, and this is compounded when the results of such patient-level models are aggregated and used inappropriately to assess provider performance. Specific problems include sample size differences, clustering of observations, multiple comparisons, and failure to account for the random component of interprovider variability. We advocate the use of hierarchical or multilevel statistical models to address these concerns, as well as report formats that emphasize the statistical uncertainty of the results.

Surgical treatments for heart failure

The surgical options for CHF are a part of a larger paradigm shift in management. Viable and effective surgical options other than cardiac transplant and ventricular assist devices clearly exist and are applicable to a large portion of patients with CHF. These surgical therapies are of acceptable risk before decompensated CHF develops. The rapidly evolving therapies for altering LV remodeling, which underlies CHF progression, are an exciting area that may be joined in the future by molecular advances in myoblast transfer and gene therapy. These therapies are the basis of the discipline of CHF surgery within cardiovascular surgery.

Relationship of hospital size, case volume, and cost for coronary artery bypass surgery: analysis of 12,774 patients operated on in Massachusetts during fiscal years 1995 and 1996

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the relationship between the cost of coronary artery bypass graft surgery and both hospital size and case volume.

METHODS

Retrospective administrative and cost data were obtained for all 12,774 patients who underwent isolated coronary bypass surgery at 12 Massachusetts hospitals during 1995 and 1996. Hospitals were stratified by number of operating beds into 3 groups (group I, <250 beds; group II, 250-450 beds; group III, >450 beds). Total (diagnosis-related groups 106 + 107) annual coronary bypass cases per hospital varied from 271 to 913 (mean 532). Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to study the relationship between the direct and total cost and a number of patient (age, sex, acuity class, payer) and hospital (bed capacity, annual case volume per diagnosis-related group, cardiothoracic residency) predictor variables. For each hospital, we also studied the relationship between changes in coronary bypass case volume and the corresponding changes in average cost from 1995 to 1996.

RESULTS

Scatterplots revealed a broad range of mean direct cost of coronary bypass surgery among hospitals with comparable case volumes. When annual cases were analyzed as continuous variables, there was no linear relationship of case volume with direct or total cost of coronary bypass (r = -0.05 to +0.08) for any diagnosis-related group or year. When hospital bed capacity and case volume were grouped into strata and studied by analysis of variance, there was no evidence of an inverse relationship between these variables and cost. In multivariable analysis, patient acuity class and diagnosis-related group were the most important predictors of cost. Beds and case volume met inclusion criteria for most models but added little to the "explanation" of variability R(2), often less than 1%. Finally, substantial interhospital differences were noted in the magnitude and direction (direct vs inverse) of their 1995 to 1996 change in volume versus change in cost.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the range of hospital size and case volume represented in this study, there is no evidence that either variable is related to the cost of performing coronary bypass surgery. Massachusetts hospitals appear to function on different segments of different average cost curves. It is not possible to predict the relative cost of coronary bypass grafting at a given hospital based primarily on volume.

Target vessel revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass in elderly high-risk patients

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients over 75 years is associated with high operative risk. Target vessel revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is a promising option for highly selected, older patients. However, the outcome remains uncertain.

METHODS

We investigated 44 patients over 75 years, matched for preoperative risk and left ventricular function, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting either with or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We analyzed patients characteristics, Parsonnet score, EuroSCORE, short as well as midterm outcome and quality of life (freedom from recurrence of angina, anti-anginal therapy, sf36 test).

RESULTS

Perioperative mortality was higher in the patient group operated with CPB (15.9) as compared to patients operated without CPB (4.5%, p = 0.0226). Patients operated with cardiopulmonary bypass received more grafts (3.1 +/- 0.1) than patients operated without cardiopulmonary bypass (1.6 +/- 0.1, p = 0.0001) and and were more likely to undergo complete revascularization (with CPB 100%, without CPB 63.6%, p = 0.0010). Perioperative complications were more frequent and midterm survival was worse in the patient group operated with CPB (log rank p = 0.0228). Quality of life was comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The concept of incomplete target vessel revascularization of the culprit lesion seems to be a promising option for selected high-risk patients, predominantly due to lower perioperative mortality.