One‐Year Clinical Outcomes After Complete Arterial Coronary Revascularization

Background: Conventional coronary bypass surgery applies single internal mammary arteries and saphenous vein graft conduits for revascularization of occluded coronary arteries. While the use of saphenous vein grafts is limited by early graft occlusion, little data exist on clinical experiences with complete arterial revascularization. Patients and Method: From January 2003 to July 2004, 390 patients were transferred from Red Cross Hospital Cardiology Center to the Rotenburg Cardiovascular Center for coronary bypass operation. From these patients, 200 were selected for complete arterial revascularization. Mean age of the patients was 66.7 ± 8.0 years; 80.5% were male; 68.5% had triple‐vessel disease, 31% had two‐vessel disease, and 0.5% had single‐vessel disease; 32% were diabetic; and 6.5% had a previous bypass operation. Left ventricular ejection fraction was >50% in 85.5% and 30–50% in 14.5%. Double internal mammary artery grafts were used in 98% and single internal mammary artery grafts in 2%. In 51%, the right internal mammary artery was connected with the left internal mammary artery as a T‐graft and in 17%, it was used as a free aortocoronary graft. Radial artery grafts were used in 4%. The average number of anastomoses per patient was 3.4. Results: During the primary in‐hospital stay, 1.5% of the patients had to undergo reoperation, 3.5% had myocardial infarctions, 3.5% had wound healing complications, 1.0% experienced an ischemic stroke, and 1 patient died following an acute myocardial infarction. At 12 months, 1.0% underwent percutaneous reinterventions, 0.5% had to be reoperated, 0.5% had a myocardial infarction, and 1.0% died. The actuarial survival rate at 12 months was 99%. Conclusion: When both the internal mammary arteries are used as the preferred surgical strategy, complete arterial revascularization can be performed with excellent clinical results over 12 months.