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Factors associated with presence of ascending aortic atherosclerosis in CABG patients

Thomas Schachner1, Georg Nagele, Andre Kacani

  • 1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|November 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Epiaortic scanning during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can identify patients with ascending aortic arteriosclerosis. Key predictors include age, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • The routine use of epiaortic scanning during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains debated.
  • Determining selective criteria for this imaging modality is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify patient-specific factors that predict atherosclerotic ascending aortic wall thickening.
  • To inform the selective application of epiaortic scanning in CABG patients.

Main Methods:

  • Epiaortic scanning was performed on 500 patients undergoing CABG.
  • Ascending aortic wall thickness was measured and correlated with clinical and demographic variables.

Main Results:

  • Ascending aortic wall thickness correlated with age, creatinine, EuroSCORE, and descending aortic thickness.
  • Hypertension, unstable angina, COPD, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease were associated with increased wall thickness.
  • Multivariate analysis identified descending aortic thickness, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease as independent predictors.

Conclusions:

  • Epiaortic scanning is not routinely indicated but should be considered for specific patient groups.
  • Patients with older age, hypertension, unstable angina, COPD, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, elevated creatinine, higher EuroSCOREs, or thickened descending aorta are candidates.
Abstract

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