Emergency coronary artery bypass surgery in the contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention era

Since the advent of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), technological advances, adjunctive pharmacotherapy, and increasing operator experience have contributed to lowering the occurrence of major complications. However, emergency coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) for failed PCI is still associated with important morbidity and mortality, even in the era of coronary stenting. We sought to determine the prevalence, indications, predictors, and complications of emergency CABG after PCI in the past decade.

We reviewed 18 593 PCIs performed from 1992 through 2000. There was a need for emergency CABG in 113 (0.61%) cases. The major indications were extensive dissection (n=61, 54%), perforation/tamponade (n=23, 20%), and recurrent acute closure (n=23, 20%). Prevalence of emergency CABG decreased from 1.5% of PCIs in 1992 to 0.14% in 2000 (P<0.001). Independent predictors of the need for emergency CABG included the worst ACC/AHA scoring of the intervened lesion (P<0.001) and female sex (P= 0.028), whereas history of prior bypass surgery and use of stents resulted in a decreased need for emergency CABG (P<0.001 for both). In patients undergoing emergency CABG, there were 17 (15%) in-hospital deaths, 14 (12%) perioperative Q-wave myocardial infarctions, and 6 (5%) cerebrovascular accidents.

The need for emergency CABG has considerably decreased over time. Risk factors include female sex and a higher ACC/AHA score of the intervened lesion. However, morbidity and mortality of emergency CABG remain high even in the new millennium.