Coronary surgery with non-cardioplegic methods in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction: immediate and long term results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate perioperative results and long term survival in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using non-cardioplegic methods. METHODS: From April 1990 through December 1999, 4100 consecutive patients underwent isolated CABG using hypothermic ventricular fibrillation. Of these, 141 (3.4%) had severe LV dysfunction (ejection fraction < 30%). Mean age was 58.3 (9.6) years. 64 patients (45.4%) were in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III or IV and 16 (11.3%) were subjected to urgent or emergent surgery. A previous myocardial infarction was recorded in 127 (90.1%). The majority (89.4%) had triple vessel and 26 (18.4%) had left main disease. The mean number of grafts per patient was 3.1. At least one internal thoracic artery was used in all patients and 21 (14.8%) had bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts (1.2 arterial grafts per patient). RESULTS: Perioperative mortality was 2.8% (4 patients) and the incidence of acute myocardial infarction 2.8%. 50 (35.5%) patients required inotropes but only 16 (11.3%) required it for longer than 24 hours; 5 patients (3.5%) needed mechanical support. The incidence of renal failure was 3.5%. Mean duration of hospital stay was 9.6 (8.3) days. Follow up was 95% complete and extended for a mean of 57 (30) months. Late mortality was 11.5%. Actuarial survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 96%, 91%, and 86%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Non-cardioplegic techniques are safe and effective in preserving the myocardium during CABG in patients with coronary artery disease and poor LV function, with low operative mortality and morbidity, and encouraging medium to long term survival rates.

Staged carotid and coronary surgery for concomitant carotid and coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that staged, consecutive, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are safe, perhaps preferable, alternative for the treatment of patients with severe carotid and coronary artery disease. METHODS: During an 8-year period ending December 1999, 77 (2.1%) of 3633 consecutive patients who were referred for isolated coronary surgery were found to have significant carotid disease and underwent CEA, and subsequently, CABG. The mean age was 65.2 +/- 5.9 years and 66 (85.7%) were males. The majority (84.4%) had triple vessel and 19.4% had left main disease. Carotid disease was unilateral in 71 patients (92.2%) and bilateral in six (7.8%), and 57 (74.0%) were neurologically asymptomatic. Only obstructions >70% were considered for endarterectomy. RESULTS: Eighty-three isolated CEAs were performed with direct clamping of the artery (mean 20.1 +/- 5.9 min) in all but one. There were no deaths. There were two strokes (2.4%) and three (3.6%) myocardial infarctions (MI). The mean admission time was 6.0 +/- 3.5 days. The staging interval was 32.4 days. During coronary surgery, a mean of 2.9 coronary grafts/patient was performed and all but one patient received at least one IMA graft. One patient (1.3%) died. There were two cases (2.6%) of MI and three patients (3.9%) had a stroke. Hence, the overall rates of perioperative mortality, MI and stroke were 1.3, 6.3 and 6.3%, respectively. The mean admission time was 8.3 +/- 6.0 days. CONCLUSIONS: Staging of carotid and coronary operations resulted in low global perioperative mortality and morbidity rates in these high-risk patients and is a good alternative therapeutic option.