Double thoracic artery--halved mid-term mortality? A 5-year follow-up of 716 patients receiving bilateral ITA versus 662 patients with single ITA.

UNLABELLED: The superior patency of ITA grafts to saphenous veins is conclusive. The aim of the study was to collate mid-term benefit between patients receiving bilateral ITA (BITA) or single ITA (SITA). Outcome of 1378 pts with isolated CABG operated between 1/97-8/99 was analyzed retrospectively. Follow-up was 4.0 to 6.6 years (average 5.3). A total of 716 pts received BITA, 662 SITA and additional saphenous veins. We evaluated mortality rate, freedom from reoperation, intervention (PTCA/stent), and incidence of cardiac events and quality of life with respect to pts risk factors. Demographic data: Male gender was more frequent in both groups (BITA females: n=115; males: n=601; SITA females: n=150; males: n=512; p<0.01). Mean age was comparable in both groups with 69.2 years (42.7 to 88.6 years) in the BITA group and 71.0 years (47.3 to 91.6 years) (n. s.) in the SITA group. RISK FACTORS: Incidence of diabetes mellitus (26.0 vs 25.9%) as well as the mean BMI (27.4 vs 27.0%) did not differ statistically in both groups. RESULTS: Clinical characteristics like NYHA/ CCS classifications showed a significant difference towards superior results only for stadium I in the BITA group. Mortality/cardiac events after 5.3 years average: Total mortality revealed 5.2% (n=37) in the BITA vs 9.1% (n=60) in the SITA group (p

Is there a difference between diabetic and non-diabetic ITAs? Histomorphological and immunohistochemical examinations of internal thoracic arteries.

BACKGROUND: The relative resistance to arteriosclerosis of the internal thoracic artery is clinically valid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the graduation of intima and media fibrosis in ITA parts and to determine the extent of atherosclerosis using immunohistochemical methods related to patients' risk factors. METHODS: 227 distal ITA segments from 144 male and 83 female patients were examined. Mean age was 66.7 +/- 9.03 years. HE and Elastica van Gieson staining was performed to detect intima-/mediafibrosis. POPULATION: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (idDM; n = 35), non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (nidDM; n = 32), irradiation of the chest due to cancer (n = 27), control group with isolated hyperlipidemia, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease (n = 133). 12 ITA segments of each group were examined immunohistochemically using CD34, CD68, Tenascin, Collagen III, Collagen IV. RESULTS: Histomorphological examinations using HE and Elastica van Gieson stainings showed for idDM-ITAs no fibrosis in 57 %, slight fibrosis in 34 %, medium in 6 %, no severe, for nidDM-ITAs no fibrosis in 63 %, slight 31 %, medium 3 %, severe 3 %, for ITAs after irradiation: no fibrosis in 37 %, slight in 62 %, no medium or severe fibrosis. Compared to the control group there was no statistically significant difference in diabetic ITAs. Immunohistochemical examinations, scored on a 0 - 3 basis with 0 being the lowest (no reaction), 3 the highest (severe reaction), showed mostly no or slight reaction to CD34, CD68, Tenascin, and Collagen III for intima and media, with comparable results for diabetic or "irradiated" ITAs to those of the control group. The most distinct reaction (medium= 2), was detected for Collagen IV, a marker which outlines basement membranes of endothelia and smooth muscle cells of the vessel wall, but without differences between the four groups. No severe reactions were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The relative resistance of ITA to arteriosclerosis could be demonstrated in 227 ITA segments. Immunohistochemistry supports histomorphological findings. The influence of diabetes mellitus and irradiation remains irrelevant.

Are men treated better than women? Outcome of male versus female patients after CABG using bilateral internal thoracic arteries.

BACKGROUND: Apart from smaller native coronary arteries a lower number of anastomoses and a lower ITA incidence have been suggested as being responsible for the increased mortality in female patients compared to males. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the outcome of females might be a consequence of a different regimen in anastomosis and ITA frequency. METHODS: We evaluated operative data and early outcome of 6906 patients with isolated CABG operated between 1/96 - 7/03 3064 out of 5381 males received bilateral ITA (BITA) vs. 750 of 1525 females. Single ITA (SITA) was performed in 2126 males and 704 females. RESULTS: Demographic and operative data: average age for male patients was 64.0 +/- 9.2 years, for females 68.5 +/- 8.6 years ( p < 0.05). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was significantly higher in females (34.6 % vs. 27.4 %, p < 0.01). Body mass index (BMI, 26.6 vs. 27.4 mean), incidence of main stem stenosis (23.0 % vs. 23.5 %), ejection fraction < 40 % (7.8 % vs. 10.1 %), urgent or emergent operations (13.1 % vs. 11.3 %) and number of performed anastomoses (3.2 vs. 3.5 mean) showed no significant difference between males and females. Total ITA frequency did not differ (95.3 % vs. 96.5 %), but BITA frequency was significantly higher (56.9 % vs. 49.2 %, p < 0.01) in male patients. Overall 30-day mortality was 2.8 % for males vs. 4.1 % ( p < 0.05) for females. Cardiac-related mortality was significantly higher in female patients (2.6 % vs. 1.1 %, p < 0.01). Non-cardiac-related mortality did not differ significantly. Graft-related mortality for males and females revealed 2.7 % in the BITA, 3.3 % in the SITA group and 6.9 % for patients without ITAs and reached statistical significance ( p < 0.01) for SITA or BITA vs. the no-ITA group, but not for BITA vs. SITA grafting. Nevertheless cardiac-related mortality in male and female patients without an ITA graft was more than two-fold higher compared to these with single ITAs and more than three-fold higher compared to those with BITA grafting. CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, frequently associated with diabetes mellitus, presents a predictor for increased mortality in CABG. A discrimination of women with respect to a restriction of ITA grafting could be confirmed only for bilateral ITAs. The superior results of bilateral ITA grafts are independent of gender.

Re-OPCAB vs. Re-CABG for myocardial revascularization.

BACKGROUND: The present study compared redo coronary artery bypass grafting (Re-OPCAB) techniques with conventional redo coronary artery bypass grafting (Re-CABG) with particular focus on myocardial damage and clinical outcome parameters. METHODS: Redo OPCAB (Re-OPCAB) was performed on 20 consecutive patients (15 males, mean age 63.2 +/- 9.3 years) using either the anterolateral approach for minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (n = 4) or the Octopus technique with regular sternotomy (n = 16). The Re-CABG group consisted of 20 consecutive patients (18 males, mean age 67.1 +/- 6.6 years). Groups did not differ in the number of atherosclerotic risk factors, or left ventricular, renal or liver function. RESULTS: Duration of surgery, number of bypass grafts and amount of transfused red blood cells did not differ significantly between both groups. Requirement of epinephrine (mg/h) within the first 24 h was lower in the Re-OPCAB group (Re-OPCAB: 0.14 +/- 0.22 vs. CABG: 0.88 +/- 0.97; p<0.01). In addition, CKMB levels at 24 h after operation were lower in the Re-OPCAB group (Re-OPCAB: 10.0 +/- 10.1 vs. Re-CABG: 38.7 +/- 28.1 U/l, p<0.001). There were no acute myocardial infarctions or deaths in the perioperative period. In the CABG group, there was a longer time period to extubation (hours) (Re-OPCAB: 9.8 +/- 3.9 vs. Re-CABG: 28.7 +/- 25.5; p<0.001), and the length of ICU stay was significantly prolonged (OPCAB: 1.3 +/- 0.5 versus Re-CABG: 4.4 +/- 8.7; p<0.001). The graft patency rate at follow-up was 95% in the Re-OPCAB group. CONCLUSION: Re-OPCAB results in decreased cardiac specific enzyme release, reduced requirement of inotropes and comparable clinical outcome in the early postoperative period. It is an appropriate alternative to conventional Re-CABG in selected patients awaiting reoperation for myocardial revascularization. Larger prospective and randomized trials are required to select the appropriate patient who benefits most from one or the other treatment regime.