Impact of focused cardiac and lung ultrasound screening performed by a junior doctor during admission to the surgical ward on patients before emergency non-cardiac surgery: A pilot prospective observational study.

Purpose: To assess whether pre-operative focused cardiac ultrasound and lung ultrasound screening performed by a junior doctor can change diagnosis and clinical management of patients aged ≥65 years undergoing emergency, non-cardiac surgery. Method: This pilot prospective observational study included patients scheduled for emergency, non-cardiac surgery. The treating team completed a diagnosis and management plan before and after focused cardiac and lung ultrasound, which was performed by a junior doctor. Changes to diagnosis and management after ultrasound were recorded. Ultrasound images were assessed for image and diagnostic interpretation by an independent expert. Results: There was a total of 57 patients at age 77 ± 8 years. Cardiopulmonary pathology was suspected after clinical assessment in 28% vs. 72% after ultrasound (including abnormal haemodynamic state in 61%, valvular lesions in 32%, acute pulmonary oedema/interstitial syndrome in 9% and bilateral pleural effusions in 2%). In 67% of patients, the perioperative management was changed. The changes were in fluid therapy in 30%, cardiology consultation in 7%, formal in- or out-patient, transthoracic echocardiography in 11% and 30% respectively. Discussion: The impact of pre-operative focused cardiac and lung ultrasound on diagnosis and management of patients on the hospital ward before emergency non-cardiac surgery by a junior doctor was comparable to previous studies of anaesthetists experienced in focused ultrasound. However, the ability to recognise when image quality is insufficient for diagnosis is an important consideration for novice sonographers. Conclusions: Focused cardiac and lung ultrasound examination by a junior doctor is feasible and may change preoperative diagnosis and management in patients of 65 years or older, admitted for emergency non-cardiac surgery.

Cost Implications of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion During Cardiac Surgery: A Cost Analysis of the LAAOS III Trial.

Background The LAAOS III (Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study) clinical trial demonstrated that concomitant left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion leads to a lower risk of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism compared with no occlusion in participants with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥2 undergoing cardiac surgery for another indication. We report the cost implications of concomitant LAA occlusion during cardiac surgery. Methods and Results Using LAAOS III data, we compared the costs (in US dollars) associated with LAA occlusion to no occlusion from the perspective of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. We calculated the average cost per participant during the trial by applying Medicare reimbursement costs to cardiovascular events for all trial participants. We conducted sensitivity analyses, varying the cost of stroke ±25% and occlusion technique use. Cost neutrality was defined as a mean cost difference within ±5% of the cost per participant in the no-occlusion group. Total study cost per participant was $3878 in the LAA occlusion group and $4490 in the no-occlusion group, a mean difference of -$612 (95% CI, -$1276 to $45). The main drivers of cost savings were fewer stroke events during the trial (mean difference of -$1021). In sensitivity analyses, LAA occlusion was cost saving for suture and stapler techniques but more expensive with closure device. Conclusions Concomitant LAA occlusion was cost saving for participants in LAAOS III. Our findings support concomitant LAA occlusion as an economically dominant strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥2 undergoing cardiac surgery.

Three Zone Scanning Protocol For Lung Ultrasound: An Anatomical Basis.

Lung ultrasound is rapidly gaining popularity based on point of care ease of use, diagnostic fidelity and lack of ionising radiation. This was particularly notable at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where concerns of contamination of the x-ray department led to a reluctance to order frequent chest x-rays. Early COVID-19 lung involvement is of a bronchopneumonia, and patches of consolidation adjacent to the chest wall were easily detectable by ultrasound. A large number of proposed scanning protocols were advocated and are often complex and largely based on traditional stethoscope examination or access points on the chest wall rather than the underlying lung anatomy. A surgical understanding of lung anatomy and related surface anatomy has led us to develop a simplified three zone scanning protocol in 2013. The anterior zone corresponds to the upper lobe, and the posterior zone is divided between upper lobe and lower lobe. The relationship between lung lobes and the surface of the chest wall provides the anatomical basis for a simple three scanning zone lung ultrasound protocol.

Health-related quality of life after restrictive versus liberal RBC transfusion for cardiac surgery: Sub-study from a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Transfusion Requirements in Cardiac Surgery III (TRICS III), a multi-center randomized controlled trial, demonstrated clinical non-inferiority for restrictive versus liberal RBC transfusion for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, it is uncertain if transfusion strategy affects long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this planned sub-study of Australian patients in TRICS III, we sought to determine the non-inferiority of restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategy on long-term HRQOL and to describe clinical outcomes 24 months postoperatively. The restrictive strategy involved transfusing RBCs when hemoglobin was <7.5 g/dl; the transfusion triggers in the liberal group were: <9.5 g/L intraoperatively, <9.5 g/L in intensive care, or <8.5 g/dl on the ward. HRQOL assessments were performed using the 36-item short form survey version 2 (SF-36v2). Primary outcome was non-inferiority of summary measures of SF-36v2 at 12 months, (non-inferiority margin: -0.25 effect size; restrictive minus liberal scores). Secondary outcomes included non-inferiority of HRQOL at 18 and 24 months. RESULTS: Six hundred seventeen Australian patients received allocated randomization; HRQOL data were available for 208/311 in restrictive and 217/306 in liberal group. After multiple imputation, non-inferiority of restrictive transfusion at 12 months was not demonstrated for HRQOL, and the estimates were directionally in favor of liberal transfusion. Non-inferiority also could not be concluded at 18 and 24 months. Sensitivity analyses supported these results. There were no differences in quality-adjusted life years or composite clinical outcomes up to 24 months after surgery. DISCUSSION: The non-inferiority of a restrictive compared to a liberal transfusion strategy was not established for long-term HRQOL in this dataset.

Effect of total arterial grafting in the Arterial Revascularization Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The Arterial Revascularization Trial (ART) was designed to compare 10-year survival in bilateral versus single internal thoracic artery grafts. The intention-to-treat analysis has showed comparable outcomes between the 2 groups but an explanatory analysis suggested that those receiving 2 or more arterial grafts had better survival. Whether the exclusive use of arterial grafts provide further benefit is unclear. METHODS: We performed an exploratory analysis of the ART based on conduits actually received (as-treated principle). From ART cohort, only patients receiving at least 3 grafts were included. The final population consisted of 1084, 1010, and 390 patients in the single arterial graft (SAG) group, in the multiple arterial graft (MAG) group (2 or more arterial grafts with additional saphenous veins) and total arterial graft (TAG) group (3 or more arterial grafts only) respectively. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used for comparison. RESULTS: When compared with the SAG group, there was a significant trend toward a reduction of 10-year mortality in the MAG and TAG group (test for trend P = .02). The TAG group was associated with the lowest risk of late mortality (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.96; P = .03) and with a significant risk reduction of the composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke and repeat revascularization (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.94; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with SAG, both MAG and TAG represent valuable strategies to improve clinical outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting but TAG can potentially provide further benefit.

Restrictive versus liberal transfusion in patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac surgery: An open-label, randomized, blinded outcome evaluation trial.

AIM: To characterize the association between diabetes and transfusion and clinical outcomes in cardiac surgery, and to evaluate whether restrictive transfusion thresholds are harmful in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The multinational, open-label, randomized controlled TRICS-III trial assessed a restrictive transfusion strategy (haemoglobin [Hb] transfusion threshold <75 g/L) compared with a liberal strategy (Hb <95 g/L for operating room or intensive care unit; or <85 g/L for ward) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass with a moderate-to-high risk of death (EuroSCORE ≥6). Diabetes status was collected preoperatively. The primary composite outcome was all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction, and new-onset renal failure requiring dialysis at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included components of the composite outcome at 6 months, and transfusion and clinical outcomes at 28 days. RESULTS: Of the 5092 patients analysed, 1396 (27.4%) had diabetes (restrictive, n = 679; liberal, n = 717). Patients with diabetes had more cardiovascular disease than patients without diabetes. Neither the presence of diabetes (OR [95% CI] 1.10 [0.93-1.31]) nor the restrictive strategy increased the risk for the primary composite outcome (diabetes OR [95% CI] 1.04 [0.68-1.59] vs. no diabetes OR 1.02 [0.85-1.22]; Pinteraction  = .92). In patients with versus without diabetes, a restrictive transfusion strategy was more effective at reducing red blood cell transfusion (diabetes OR [95% CI] 0.28 [0.21-0.36]; no diabetes OR [95% CI] 0.40 [0.35-0.47]; Pinteraction  = .04). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of diabetes did not modify the effect of a restrictive transfusion strategy on the primary composite outcome, but improved its efficacy on red cell transfusion. Restrictive transfusion triggers are safe and effective in patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac surgery.

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion during Cardiac Surgery to Prevent Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Surgical occlusion of the left atrial appendage has been hypothesized to prevent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, but this has not been proved. The procedure can be performed during cardiac surgery undertaken for other reasons. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized trial involving participants with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of at least 2 (on a scale from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating greater risk of stroke) who were scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery for another indication. The participants were randomly assigned to undergo or not undergo occlusion of the left atrial appendage during surgery; all the participants were expected to receive usual care, including oral anticoagulation, during follow-up. The primary outcome was the occurrence of ischemic stroke (including transient ischemic attack with positive neuroimaging) or systemic embolism. The participants, research personnel, and primary care physicians (other than the surgeons) were unaware of the trial-group assignments. RESULTS: The primary analysis population included 2379 participants in the occlusion group and 2391 in the no-occlusion group, with a mean age of 71 years and a mean CHA2DS2-VASc score of 4.2. The participants were followed for a mean of 3.8 years. A total of 92.1% of the participants received the assigned procedure, and at 3 years, 76.8% of the participants continued to receive oral anticoagulation. Stroke or systemic embolism occurred in 114 participants (4.8%) in the occlusion group and in 168 (7.0%) in the no-occlusion group (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.53 to 0.85; P = 0.001). The incidence of perioperative bleeding, heart failure, or death did not differ significantly between the trial groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants with atrial fibrillation who had undergone cardiac surgery, most of whom continued to receive ongoing antithrombotic therapy, the risk of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism was lower with concomitant left atrial appendage occlusion performed during the surgery than without it. (Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and others; LAAOS III ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01561651.).

Radial Artery vs Bilateral Mammary Composite Y Coronary Artery Grafting: 15-Year Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Total arterial coronary revascularization for three coronary territory disease can be achieved with a second arterial conduit joined to the left internal mammary artery as a Y graft, by using either a radial artery (RAY) or a second mammary artery (BIMAY). METHODS: Patients undergoing total arterial revascularization for three coronary territory disease were identified from two cardiac surgical databases (in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia) using Society of Thoracic Surgeons-based definitions. BIMAY-treated patients underwent surgery between 1994 and 2009, mostly using an age-limited protocol, whereas RAY-treated patients underwent surgery between 1996 and 2003 without age limits. All-cause mortality data were acquired from the national death registry, and survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Propensity score matching was performed using 13 variables. Given the age imbalance between the groups, the primary comparison was performed for age 66 years or younger. RESULTS: Overall, 1896 patients underwent RAY procedures, and 720 patients underwent BIMAY operations. Older age at surgery was the strongest independent predictor of mortality, with a hazard ratio of 2.06, and a 95% confidence interval of 1.93, 2.22 (P < .001). After propensity score matching, we identified 299 pairs of patients 66 years of age or younger with no preoperative or operative differences and similar ages at surgery: RAY 56.4 ± 7.0 years of age vs BIMAY 56.4 ± 6.8 years of age (P = .96). The RAY group had 4.0 ± 0.9 grafts, and the BIMAY group had 3.9 ± 0.9 grafts (P = .814). All-cause mortality was not different, with the proportion surviving at 15 years at 74.9% for the RAY group vs 76.2% for the BIMAY group (P = .211). CONCLUSIONS: Survival was not different between the RAY and BIMAY groups for total arterial revascularization of three coronary territory bypass grafting.

Effects of Supervised Early Resistance Training versus standard care on cognitive recovery following cardiac surgery via median sternotomy (the SEcReT study): protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Mild cognitive impairment is considered a precursor to dementia and significantly impacts upon quality of life. The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment is higher in the post-surgical cardiac population than in the general population, with older age and comorbidities further increasing the risk of cognitive decline. Exercise improves neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity and inflammatory and neurotrophic factor pathways, which may help to augment the effects of cognitive decline. However, the effects of resistance training on cognitive, functional and overall patient-reported recovery have not been investigated in the surgical cardiac population. This study aims to determine the effect of early moderate-intensity resistance training, compared to standard care, on cognitive recovery following cardiac surgery via a median sternotomy. The safety, feasibility and effect on functional recovery will also be examined. METHODS: This study will be a prospective, pragmatic, pilot randomised controlled trial comparing a standard care group (low-intensity aerobic exercise) and a moderate-intensity resistance training group. Participants aged 18 years and older with coronary artery and/or valve disease requiring surgical intervention will be recruited pre-operatively and randomised 1:1 to either the resistance training or standard care group post-operatively. The primary outcome, cognitive function, will be assessed using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale and cognitive subscale. Secondary measures include safety, feasibility, muscular strength, physical function, multiple-domain quality of recovery, dynamic balance and patient satisfaction. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (pre-operatively) and post-operatively at 2 weeks, 8 weeks, 14 weeks and 6 months. DISCUSSION: The results of this pilot study will be used to determine the feasibility of a future large-scale randomised controlled trial that promotes the integration of early resistance training into existing aerobic-based cardiac rehabilitation programs in Australia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12617001430325p . Registered on 9 October 2017. Universal Trial Number (UTN): U1111-1203-2131.

RARAY Operation: Operative Description and Early Results for Achieving Total Arterial Coronary Revascularisation.

BACKGROUND: Total arterial revascularisation may prolong postoperative survival following coronary surgery due to avoidance of late saphenous vein graft (SVG) failure leading to ischaemic cardiac events. The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is routinely used for CABG but harvest may adversely affect lung function and reduce sternal vascular supply. Early experience of a novel reconstruction with exclusive reliance on two radial arteries (RA) joined as a Y graft (RARAY) is presented. METHODS: One RA is anastomosed to the ascending aorta and used to revascularise the left anterior descending artery coronary territory; and a second RA is joined to the first 4-6 cm from the origin, approximating the lateral border of the pulmonary artery and used to revascularise the circumflex and right coronary territories. No LIMA is used. The radial artery was harvested open with diathermy and metal clips and since 2008, all patients received intravenous vasoconstrictors from the commencement of the anaesthetic. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2019, 28 patients underwent RARAY for specific indications of prior use or reasons to avoid LIMA harvest, preservation of lung function, minimisation of bleeding risk from antiplatelet agents and extra length of RA to graft distal coronary targets beyond usual reach for LIMA. There was no RA spasm, no in-hospital death and no patient returned with symptoms of angina. CONCLUSIONS: The early experience of the RARAY operation for three coronary territory revascularisations are satisfactory.

A randomized trial comparing the effects of sternal band and plate fixation of the sternum with that of figure-of-8 wires on sternal edge motion and quality of recovery after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare the effects of conventional wire cerclage with that of the band and plate fixation of the sternum. METHODS: A parallel randomized open-label trial with 1:1 allocation ratio compared healing after adult cardiac surgery using 'figure-of-8' stainless steel wire cerclage or a band and plate system (plates). The primary end point was maximal sternal edge displacement during active coughing of ≥2 mm in ≥2 of 4 sites measured with ultrasound by 2 assessors blinded to the other at 6 weeks postoperatively. Secondary end points at 12 weeks included ultrasound assessment, computed tomography (CT) scan and multidimensional assessment of quality of recovery using the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale. RESULTS: Of 50 patients, 26 received plates and 24 wires. Two patients died and 1 withdrew consent leaving 25 plates and 22 wires for primary end point analysis. Operations included 37 coronary, 5 valve and 8 combined coronary and valve procedures. At 6 weeks, less sternal movement was observed in patients with plates than those with wires, 4% (1/25) vs 32% (7/22), P = 0.018. Agreement between observers was high, kappa = 0.850. At 12 weeks, less ultrasound motion was seen in patients with plates, 0% (0/23) than those with wires, 25% (5/20), P = 0.014. Recovery from pain was higher for patients with plates 92% (22/24) than those with wires 67% (14/21), P = 0.004. CT bone edge separation was less for plates 38% (9/24) than wires 71% (15/21), P = 0.036. CT mild bone synthesis or greater was similar between patients with plates 21% (5/24) and wires 14% (3/21), P = 0.71. CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving the band and plate system had significantly less sternal edge motion than those receiving wires, 6 and 12 weeks after cardiac surgery and experienced less pain. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT03282578.

Comparison of Cardiac Output of Both 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography With Transpulmonary Thermodilution During Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To compare agreement and variability of cardiac output measurement of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with thermodilution before and after bypass. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Two tertiary hospitals. INTERVENTIONS: Cardiac output (CO) was measured simultaneously with thermodilution and TEE by multiplying either the left ventricular outflow tract area (LVOTA) or aortic valve area (AVA), the velocity-time integral (VTI) of flow at the same site, and heart rate. The LVOTA was calculated using diameter for 2D TEE. Planimetry was used for 3D TEE. The AVA was measured using planimetry. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 82 adult patients undergoing coronary or valve surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four complete sets of measurements were obtained (82 prebypass and 72 postbypass). All TEE methods had acceptable correlation and absence of proportional or fixed bias except for the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) VTI modal trace method, which had poor correlation and proportional but not fixed bias (regression coefficient [95% confidence interval], bias [percentage of mean CO]): 2D LVOT VTI modal trace 0.67 (0.54-0.80), -36.4%; 2D LVOT VTI outer edge trace 0.96 (0.80-1.12), -15.3%; 2D AVA planimetry 0.96 (0.75-1.18), +4.9%; 3D LVOT area planimetry 1.18 (0.96-1.41), +0.8%; 3D AVA planimetry 1.20 (0.93-1.46), +0.4%. All TEE methods had wide levels of agreement compared with thermodilution (-3.94 to +0.23 L/min, -2.83 to +1.28 L/min, -2.23 to +2.73 L/min, -2.35 to +2.42 L/min, and -2.57 to +2.61 L/min, respectively). Measurement variability was superior for all TEE methods compared with thermodilution before but not after bypass. CONCLUSIONS: Although limits of agreement of CO measurement with 3D TEE and thermodilution are wide, 2D planimetry of the AVA and continuous wave Doppler may be substituted for thermodilution before and after bypass.

Patency When Grafted to Coronary Stenosis More Than 50% in LIMA-RA-Y Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Recent coronary surgery practice is to graft arterial conduits to more severely stenosed coronary targets than in the past. We aimed to investigate postoperative arterial graft patency with native coronary stenosis at the time of surgery, using the left internal mammary artery and radial artery (RA) as a composite Y graft (LIMA-RA-Y). In the study timeframe, it was routine clinical practice to graft coronary arteries with >50% stenosis. METHODS: Of 464 patients previously reported 1996-1999, 346 who underwent LIMA-RA-Y at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, 76 had postoperative angiograms at the same institution. Each anastomosis was considered separately. For arterial grafts a "string sign" was analysed as being occluded. Predictor of patency was performed with a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM). RESULTS: Seventy-six (76) patients had postoperative angiograms at 5.8±5.4 years (range 0.23-19.4; interquartile range 1.7-10.0) years postoperative; with age at operation 62.5±10.7 years and 3.4±0.8 grafts per patient, 82% were male. Of 256 anastomoses, 230 were to coronary targets >50% stenosis. Overall patency was 84.0% (214/256). For coronary stenosis >50%, patency was 88% (201/230) and varied by coronary territory left anterior descending (LAD) 94% (87/93), circumflex 90% (71/79) and right coronary artery (RCA) 74% (43/58). Interaction for coronary territory was significant (p=0.022). Higher preoperative coronary stenosis predicted higher patency; with odds ratio for improved patency of 1.83 (95% CI 1.51, 2.22), p<0.001 for each 10% increase in stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Late patency of composite arterial grafts is acceptable when grafted to coronary arteries of greater than 50% stenosis.

A randomized, controlled pilot clinical trial of cryopreserved platelets for perioperative surgical bleeding: the CLIP-I trial (Editorial, p. 2759).

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation extends platelet (PLT) shelf life from 5 to 7 days to 2 to 4 years. However, only 73 patients have been transfused cryopreserved PLTs in published randomized controlled trials (RCTs), making safety data insufficient for regulatory approval. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The Cryopreserved vs. Liquid Platelet (CLIP) study was a double-blind, pilot, multicenter RCT involving high-risk cardiothoracic surgical patients in four Australian hospitals. The objective was to test, as the primary outcome, the feasibility and safety of the protocol. Patients were allocated to study group by permuted block randomization, with patients and clinicians blinded by use of an opaque shroud placed over each study PLT unit. Up to 3 units of cryopreserved or liquid-stored PLTs were administered per patient. No other aspect of patient care was affected. Adverse events were actively sought. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were randomized, of whom 23 received cryopreserved PLTs and 18 received liquid-stored PLTs. There were no differences in blood loss (median, 715 mL vs. 805 mL at 24 hr; difference between groups 90 mL [95% CI, -343.8 to 163.8 mL], p = 0.41), but the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criterion for significant postoperative hemorrhage in cardiac surgery composite bleeding endpoint occurred in nearly twice as many patients in the liquid-stored group (55.6% vs. 30.4%, p = 0.10). Red blood cell transfusion requirements were a median of 3 units in the cryopreserved group versus 4 units with liquid-stored PLTs (difference between groups, 1 unit [95% CI, -3.1 to 1.1 units]; p = 0.23). Patients in the cryopreserved group were more likely to be transfused fresh-frozen plasma (78.3% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.002) and received more study PLT units (median, 2 units vs. 1 unit; difference between groups, 1 unit [95% CI, -0.03 to 2.0 units]; p = 0.012). There were no between-group differences in potential harms including deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, respiratory function, infection, and renal function. No patient had died at 28 days, and postoperative length of stay was similar in each group. CONCLUSION: In this pilot RCT, compared to liquid-stored PLTs, cryopreserved PLTs were associated with no evidence of harm. A definitive study testing safety and hemostatic effectiveness is warranted.

21-Year Survival of Left Internal Mammary Artery-Radial Artery-Y Graft.

BACKGROUND: In 1999, Royse et al. reported on the left internal mammary artery, radial artery, Y-graft technique (LIMA-RA-Y), which achieves total arterial revascularization (TAR). However, the most common coronary reconstruction remains LIMA and supplementary saphenous vein grafts (LIMA + SVG). OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to conduct a survival comparison of LIMA-RA-Y versus the conventional LIMA + SVG. METHODS: Of the original 464 LIMA-RA-Y patients reported (1996 to 1998), 346 were from the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Survival at June 2017 was compared with a group of 534 patients from 1996 to 2003 from the same institution who received LIMA + SVG, or 5,800 patients who received TAR with different grafting configurations. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed with 1:1 matching using 26 variables. Comparisons used Kaplan-Meier (KM) and Cox proportional hazards methods. LIMA-RA-Y was compared with LIMA + SVG in which all non-left anterior descending artery grafts were performed with either composite RA or aorta-coronary SVG with no use of right internal mammary artery. We also conducted a comparison of LIMA-RA-Y versus TAR. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the LIMA-RA-Y group (n = 346) compared with LIMA + SVG (n = 534) after PSM (n = 232 pairs) did not differ (3.3 ± 0.8 grafts per patient). Survival was worse for LIMA + SVG in the unmatched groups (KM, p < 0.001) and for PSM groups (KM, p = 0.043; Cox proportional hazards ratio: 1.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.0 to 1.6; p = 0.038). Survival did not differ between LIMA-RA-Y and other TAR (n = 5,800) patients before, or after, PSM (n = 332 pairs). CONCLUSIONS: Use of LIMA + SVG has worse survival than LIMA-RA-Y in achieving total arterial revascularization.