Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of preoperative IABP in patients with ejection fraction of 0.25 or less.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study are to determine whether patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction benefit from prophylactic insertion of an intraaortic balloon pump and to evaluate its cost-effectiveness. METHODS: Between January 1991 and December 1995, 163 consecutive patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.25 or less underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. An intraaortic balloon pump was inserted before operation in 37 patients (group A). The remaining 126 patients underwent operation without preoperative insertion of the device (group B). Preoperatively, 91.9% (34/37) of group A patients and 54.8% (69/126) of group B patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV (p < 0.001). RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate was 2.7% (1/37) and 11.9% (15/126) for groups A and B, respectively (p < 0.005). All deaths occurred in patients in functional class III or IV. In group B, 28 patients (22.2%) required an intraaortic balloon pump after cardiotomy for low cardiac output, 42.9% (12/28) of whom died. Median postoperative hospital stay was 9.9 days and 12.0 days, and mean hospital charges were $50,627 and $54,818 for survivors in groups A and B; respectively (p = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting may benefit from preoperative intraaortic balloon pump insertion, especially patients in functional class III or IV. This approach improved survival significantly, reduced hospital stay, and was more cost-effective.

Which is the graft of choice for the right coronary and posterior descending arteries? Comparison of the right internal mammary artery and the right gastroepiploic artery.

BACKGROUND: The graft of choice for the left anterior descending coronary artery is the left internal mammary artery because of superior long-term patency. However, controversy exists regarding the graft of choice for the right coronary artery and for the posterior descending branch. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two types of pedicled arterial grafts were used for the right coronary and the posterior descending arteries in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery between January 1991 and September 1994. Group A comprised 114 patients with a right internal mammary artery (RIMA) graft, and group B consisted of 127 patients with an in situ right gastroepiploic artery (R-GEA) graft. Mean age was 56.9 years in group A and 63.3 years in group B; 7.9% (9 of 114) and 33.9% (43 of 127) were diabetics in groups A and B, respectively. Overall mortality was 2.6% (3 deaths) for group A and 3.9% (5 deaths) for group B (P = NS). However, the prevalence of perioperative myocardial infarction in the right coronary artery distribution was significantly higher for group A (5.3%, or 6 of 114) than for group B (0.8%, or 1 of 127; P < .05), and the reoperation rate for graft failure (from 0 to 12 months after surgery) was significantly higher for the RIMA (4.4%, or 5 of 114) than for the R-GEA (0%; P < .05). Also, the prevalence of deep sternal wound infection in diabetics was significantly higher in group A (22.2%, or 2 of 9) than in group B (4.6%, or 2 of 43; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest that the failure rate of the RIMA graft is significantly higher, especially if used as a pedicled graft to the posterior descending artery. The risk of sternal wound complications is greater in diabetics if both internal mammary arteries are used for grafting. Therefore, the R-GEA graft is preferred in diabetics and whenever the posterior descending artery is the target vessel.