Incidence and Prognostic Impact of Incomplete Revascularization Documented by Coronary Angiography 1 Year After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Complete revascularization (CR) at the time of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery improves long-term cardiac outcomes. No studies have previously reported angiographically confirmed CR rates post-CABG. This study's aim was to assess the impact upon long-term outcomes of CR versus incomplete revascularization (IR), confirmed by coronary angiography 1 year after CABG. Randomized On/Off Bypass Study patients who returned for protocol-specified 1-year post-CABG coronary angiograms were included. Patients with a widely patent graft supplying the major diseased artery within each diseased coronary territory were considered to have CR. Outcomes were all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization) over the 4 years after angiography. Of the 1,276 patients, 756 (59%) had CR and 520 (41%) had IR. MACE was 13% CR versus 26% IR, p <0.001. This difference was driven by fewer repeat revascularizations (5% CR vs 18% IR; p <0.001). There were no differences in mortality (7.1% CR vs 8.1% IR, p = 0.13) or myocardial infarction (4% in both). Adjusted multivariable models confirmed CR was associated with reduced MACE (odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.58, p <0.01), but had no impact on mortality. In conclusion, CR confirmed by post-CABG angiography was associated with improved MACE but not mortality. Repeat revascularization of patients with IR, driven by knowledge of the research angiography results, may have ameliorated potential mortality differences.

Duke Scholars

Author Muath Bishawi