Full Metal Jacket Endarterectomy of Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery is Safe With Good Midterm Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Multiple overlapping stents (Full metal jacket, FMJ) from percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) renders coronary artery bypass modus operandi unmanageable. We report our surgical revascularisation in patients with failed full metal jacket of left anterior descending coronary artery (FMJ-LAD). METHODS: We reviewed 22 patients who presented with FMJ-LAD From 2006 to 2019. Extensive endarterectomy involving almost the whole length of the left anterior descending (LAD) was performed, the arteriotomy patched up with a saphenous vein. All reconstructed LADs were grafted with the left internal mammary artery. We compared the group to propensity-matched patients with single proximal LAD lesions requiring coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). RESULTS: The mean age was 54±3.5 years. Twenty-one (21) patients (95%) were in angina class III or IV despite maximum medical therapy. Fourteen (14) patients (63.6%) presented with MI within 1 month. All patients had a preoperative positive test for ischaemia. Cross-clamp and bypass times were significantly shorter (25.5±7 mins and 65±5 mins, versus 52±3 mins and 77.2±4 mins) in the CABG group compared to FMJ-LAD group, the mean hospital stay of 6±1.5 days was not different between the groups. Postoperative electrocardiograms showed non-specific changes in 75% (n=16) with no enzyme rise. Early postoperative angiography was performed in 10 patients because of the new electrocardiograph (ECG) changes; all FMJ-LAD patients had an angiogram at 1 year, two late angiograms (2 and 3 years postoperatively), and one computed tomography (CT)-angiogram for readmission with angina. All patients in the FMJ-LAD group had 12 months follow-up angiogram or cardiac CT scan. All the endarterectomies' LADs were patent. There was no mortality within the 30 days. Patients' follow-up time was between 1-13 years. CONCLUSIONS: Open stent endarterectomy is a valuable alternative option for patients with "full metal jacket" diseased LAD that is not graftable using standard techniques with acceptable midterm results.