Angiographic Outcomes for Arterial and Venous Conduits Used in CABG

No-touch versus conventional vein in coronary artery bypass grafting: three year follow-up of multicentre randomised PATENCY trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the three year outcomes of the no-touch vein harvesting technique in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery compared with the conventional approach.

DESIGN

Three year extended follow-up of the randomised PATENCY (graft patency between the no-touch vein harvesting technique and conventional approach in coronary artery bypass graft surgery) trial.

SETTING

Seven cardiac surgery centres in China; enrolment between April 2017 and June 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

2655 participants aged 18 and older undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to the no-touch vein harvesting technique group or the conventional approach group during surgery and followed up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Vein graft occlusion (based on computed tomography angiography) at three years.

RESULTS

Mean age of participants was 61 years (standard deviation ±8 years) and 22% were women. 99.4% (2621) attended the three year follow-up visit, while 86.5% (2281) received computed tomography angiography. At three years, the no-touch group showed a significantly lower vein graft occlusion rate (5.7% v 9.0%, P<0.001) than the conventional group (odds ratio 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.48 to 0.80), with absolute risk difference of -3.2% (95% confidence interval -5.0% to -1.4%). The intention-to-treat analysis, including all 2655 randomised patients with multiple imputations for missing data, showed consistent findings, with occlusion rates of 6.1% in the no-touch group versus 9.3% in the conventional group (odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 0.81; absolute risk difference-3.1%, 95% confidence interval -4.9% to -1.4%; P<0.001). These results confirm the robustness of the no-touch technique in reducing vein graft occlusion.

CONCLUSIONS

The no-touch technique consistently and robustly reduced the risk of vein graft occlusion and several cardiac events by one third to one half within three years after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03126409.

Correlation and Agreement of Quantitative Flow Ratio With Fractional Flow Reserve in Saphenous Vein Grafts

BACKGROUND

The applicability of quantitative flow ratio (QFR), a nonhyperemic, invasive coronary angiography-derived computation of fractional flow reserve (FFR), has not been studied in coronary artery bypass grafts. We sought to explore the correlation and diagnostic agreement between QFR and FFR in saphenous vein grafts (SVGs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 129 prospectively included patients (mean age 73±8 years, 84% male) with prior coronary artery bypass grafting underwent invasive coronary angiography and pressure-derived functional assessment in 150 nonoccluded SVGs. QFR dedicated angiography images of the SVGs were acquired and used for offline QFR computation. The diagnostic performance of QFR was compared with 2-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography, using FFR as a reference. A threshold of ≤0.80 was used to define functional significance. QFR was successfully computed in 140 (93%) SVGs. We found a significant correlation between QFR and FFR (r=0.72, P<0.001). FFR indicated significant disease in 43 (31%) SVGs, whereas QFR analysis showed significant lesions in 53 (38%) bypass grafts. QFR exhibited a higher sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy compared with angiographic lesion assessment (84% versus 63%, P=0.030 and 83% versus 74%, P=0.036, respectively), whereas specificity did not differ (82% versus 79%, P=0.466). Lastly, QFR demonstrated a higher area under the receiver operating curve than quantitative coronary angiography (0.90 versus 0.82, P=0.008) for the detection of FFR-defined significant vein graft disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows the potential applicability of contemporary QFR computation in venous bypass grafts with a moderate correlation and good diagnostic accuracy compared with functional assessment using FFR.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Evidence-Based Practice

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains a pivotal cornerstone, offering established symptomatic alleviation and prognostic advantages for patients grappling with complex multivessel and left main coronary artery diseases. Despite the lucid guidance laid out by contemporary guidelines regarding the choice between CABG and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a notable hesitation persists among certain patients, characterized by psychological reservations, knowledge gaps, or individual beliefs that sway their inclination toward surgical intervention. This comprehensive review critically synthesizes the prevailing guidelines, modern practices, and outcomes pertaining to CABG surgery, delving into an array of techniques and advancements poised to enhance both short-term and enduring surgical outcomes. The exploration encompasses advances in on-pump and off-pump procedures, conduit selection strategies encompassing the bilateral utilization of internal mammary artery and radial artery conduits, meticulous graft evaluation methodologies, and the panorama of minimally invasive approaches, including those assisted by robotic technology. Furthermore, the review navigates the terrain of hybrid coronary revascularization, shedding light on the pivotal roles of shared decision-making and the heart team in shaping treatment pathways. As a comprehensive compendium, this review not only navigates the intricate landscape of CABG surgery but also aligns it with contemporary practices, envisioning its trajectory within the evolving currents of healthcare dynamics.