[Preoperative risk factors and postoperative complications in coronary artery bypass grafting]

Prediction of risk of postoperative complication is necessary for optimal use of available resources and makes possible to compare patient population and postoperative outcomes in different institutions. The goal of the study was to identify preoperative risk factors for morbidity following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Data of 1829 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for coronary artery disease in Clinics of Santariskes of Vilnius University Hospital. Morbidity was defined as the presence of one or more of the following categories of complications: cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, renal and infectious.

The observed crude hospital mortality was 2.57%. Major morbidity events occurred in 14.1% of the patients. The most frequently occurring complications were cardiac (myocardial infarction or low cardiac output syndrome), followed with the need of prolonged mechanical ventilation and stroke.

Older age, diabetic patients, patients with renal dysfunction and reduced contractility of the left ventricle, especially operated on as emergency with uncontrolled heart failure, cardiogenic shock or ongoing infarction are at risk of development one or more complications following coronary artery bypass grafting. Major perioperative complications following coronary artery bypass grafting occur relatively frequently and could be used for quality assessment and quality improvement activities in our institution.