Coronary artery bypass in dialysis patients

This study evaluated the operative outcome of dialysis patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CAB). In the past 6 years, 38 dialysis patients with a mean age of 57.5 years underwent CAB. Thirty-one operations were elective, and 7 were nonelective operations. Thirty-two operations were performed under cardiac arrest, 3 operations were performed under fibrillatory arrest, and 3 operations were performed without cardiopulmonary bypass. The average number of bypass grafts was 2.8. In all patients, the internal thoracic artery was used. Hospital mortality was 5.3%. Actuarial survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years including all causes of death were 88%, 80%, and 72%, respectively. With improvements in perioperative management, coronary artery bypass can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients. Complete revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is the ideal method and will increase in usage. However, the conventional CAB also provides acceptable results.