Ten-year follow-up after combined coronary artery bypass grafting and transmyocardial laser revascularization in patients with disseminated coronary atherosclerosis.

Coronary artery disease involving heavily calcified lesions has been associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes including increased mortality. This paper aims to evaluate long-term survival benefit when CABG + transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) are performed on the hearts of patients with disseminated coronary atherosclerosis (DCA). This novel retrospective study was conducted between 1997 and 2002 and followed 86 patients with ischemic heart disease and severe DCA who underwent TMLR using a Holmium:YAG laser and/or CABG. There were 46 patients who had CABG plus TMLR on at least one heart wall ("combined therapy group") and 40 patients who had CABG or TMLR separately on at least one heart wall ("single therapy group"). For the whole group, actuarial survival at 10 years was 78.3% in the combined group compared to 72.5% in the single therapy group (p = 0.535). Ten-year survival in the combined vs. single therapy group for the anterior heart walls was 100 vs. 72.2% (p = 0.027). For the lateral and posterior heart walls were 73.7 vs. 73.3% (p = 0.97) and 84.2 vs. 72% (p = 0.27), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed benefit only for the anterior heart wall (F Cox test, p = 0.103). Single therapy procedures on all heart walls (odds ratio 1.736, p = 0.264) or on the anterior heart wall only (odds ratio 3.286, p = 0.279) were found to be predictors of 10-year late mortality. Combined therapy (TMLR + CABG) provides benefit for perioperative mortality and long-term survival only when provided on the anterior heart wall. For patients with disseminated coronary atherosclerosis, cardiac mortality was found to be increased when followed up 6 years later, regardless of the therapy applied.

Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults: Who Needs Surgical Revascularization? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death and disability in developed countries. Despite the fact that prevalence accrues with age, an increasing number of young patients suffering from CAD is being observed worldwide. The aim of this study is to describe the population of young adults suffering from CAD and requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to assess early outcomes after the procedure. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study analyzed 190 consecutive patients aged ≤50 years old that underwent CABG between 2010 and 2014. Baseline characteristics and operative data were presented in the study. Postoperative complications, such as major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events (MACCE), prolonged mechanical ventilation (>72 hours), bleeding requiring reexploration, sternal dehiscence, and others were assessed. RESULTS: A population comprising mostly overweight or obese males with a mean age of 46 ± 4.1 years was analyzed. Patients suffered mostly from three-vessel disease (81%), hypertension (74.7%), and had previous history of myocardial infarction (MI) (60%). The majority of patients had normal left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) (83.1%). 22.6% of cases were emergent procedures. Perioperative mortality was low (1%) and overall MACCE rate stood at 2.6%. Emergent surgery was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative complications (P = .007). The number of diseased vessels, LVEF, and CCS/NYHA class-on-admission was not associated with a higher incidence of postoperative complications (P > .05 for all). CONCLUSION: CAD in young patients remains an issue described insufficiently in the literature. Among our study cohort of younger patients undergoing CABG, the majority of the patients had multivessel disease and were slightly symptomatic with normal LVEF. Although the postoperative complication rate was low, the percentage of emergent surgeries was alarmingly high in this population. Consistent with the literature, we highlight the importance of CAD screening in the young population to detect subclinical disease, which might be treated therapeutically or operated electively.

Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass as a safe method of surgical revascularization. The step towards hybrid procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary artery disease is nowadays responsible for approximately 15% of hospitalizations in Poland. Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) represents an attractive alternative to a sternotomy, and at the same time provides better life quality and facilitates quick rehabilitation. AIM: To evaluate whether MIDCAB can be performed with similar early and mid-term results as off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and therefore can be considered as a safe stage in hybrid revascularization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 73 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery) between 2013 and 2016 in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow. Thirty-eight (52.1%) MIDCAB and 35 (47.9%) OPCAB patients were enrolled. RESULTS: Short-term results did not significantly differ between groups and similar 30-day mortality was observed (MIDCAB 2.6% vs. OPCAB 2.9%, p = 1). The median follow-up period was 21 months. There were no statistical differences in terms of overall survival or cardiac mortality between groups (94.7% vs. 88.6%, p = 0.42; 2.6% vs. 2.9%, p = 1, respectively). The rate of hospitalization due to cardiac causes was similar in both groups (7.9% vs. 5.1%, p = 1) and there were no differences in current exacerbation of angina or heart failure, with median NYHA class I and CCS class I in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite higher technical difficulty, MIDCAB procedures can be performed with similar safety results as OPCAB procedures. No differences in terms of mortality, repeat revascularization or recurrent angina are observed.

How to predict the risk of postoperative complications after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients under 50 and over 80 years old. A retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death in developed countries, and there is an increasing number of both young and elderly patients requiring surgical treatment. Despite improvement of conventional risk stratification scores (EuroSCORE II, STS risk score), all of the calculations are estimated based on the typical population and the studies emphasise that the scales may need further investigation and modernisation because demographic changes of the population suffering from CAD are unavoidable. AIM: To characterise two increasing and challenging cohorts of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to identify preoperative risk factors for postoperative complications. METHODS: In the retrospective cross-sectional study, we analysed 388 patients ≥ 80 years old and 190 patients ≤ 50 years old, who underwent CABG consecutively at our Institution. Data were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: The vast majority of studied patients had commonly described risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, regardless of the age group. Diabetes was present in almost twice as many individuals in the older cohort, when compared to the EuroSCORE population. A similar observation was made for hypertension, which was more frequent in both age groups. Summarising all of the postoperative complications, at least one occurred significantly more frequently among the older group (10% vs. 20.9%, p = 0.001). The vast majority of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in the older group led to death (79.4%). Among patients ≥ 80 years old, higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (p = 0.001, OR 2.05 [1.34-3.12] for every next class) and renal failure (p = 0.02, OR 2.47 [1.16-5.25]) increased the MACCE rate, whereas higher left ven-tricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p = 0.002, OR 0.81 [0.7-0.93] for every 5%) decreased the risk. Emergent admission was the only factor increasing the occurrence of any postoperative complications among patients ≤ 50 years old (p = 0.007, OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.37-9.62). On the other hand, among patients ≥ 80 years old, emergent admission was not associated with any postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Young and old patients requiring CABG differ from the standard EuroSCORE population. Postoperative complications are more common among older patients, and MACCE is usually fatal in this age group. Individuals with risk factors for MACCE (higher NYHA class, renal failure, lower LVEF) should be carefully evaluated and qualified, and closely monitored post-surgery.

Risk factors for in-hospital mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients 80 years old or older: a retrospective case-series study.

BACKGROUND: Age remains a significant and unmodifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and an increasing number of patients older than 80 years of age undergo Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Old age is also an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. The aim of this study is to describe the population of patients 80 years of age or older who underwent CABG procedure and to assess the mortality rate and risk factors for in-hospital mortality. METHODS: A retrospective case-series study analyzing 388 consecutive patients aged 80 years of age or older who underwent isolated CABG procedure between 2010 and 2014 in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality stood at 7%, compared to 3.4% for all isolated CABG procedures at our Institution. In an univariate logistic regression analysis, risk factors for in-hospital mortality were as follows: NYHA class (p = 0.005, OR 1.95, 95% CI [1.23-3.1]), prolonged mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001, OR 7.08, 95% CI [2.47-20.3]), rethoracotomy (p = 0.04, OR 3.31, 95% CI [1.04-10.6]), duration of the procedure and ECC (for every 10 min p = 0.01, OR 1.01, 95% CI [1.0-1.01]; p = 0.03, OR 1.01, 95% CI [1.0-1.02], respectively), PRBC, FFP, and PLT transfusion (for every unit transfused p = 0.004, OR 1.42, 95% CI [1.12-1.8]; p = 0.002, OR 1.55, 95% CI [1.18-2.04]; p = 0.009, OR 1.93, 95% CI [1.18-3.14], respectively). Higher LVEF (p = 0.02, OR 0.97, 95% CI [0.94-0.99]) and LIMA graft implantation (p = 0.04, OR 0.36, 95% CI [0.13-0.98) decreased the in-hospital mortality. Death before discharge was more often observed in patients with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (0-2 -5.7%; 3-7.4%, 4-26.6%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Older age is associated with higher in-hospital mortality after isolated CABG at our Institution. Risk stratification scores and individualized risk evaluation, centered on comorbidities, NYHA class and left ventricular function, should be assessed in all cases. Whenever suitable, LIMA grafts should be used. Prolonged procedure and ECC time worsen the short-term outcome. Elderly individuals should be closely monitored postoperatively and the care should be focused on excessive blood loss and respiratory failure.