Clinical correlates of long-term mortality after percutaneous interventions of saphenous vein grafts

Rajendra H Mehta1, Emily Honeycutt, Linda K Shaw

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC 27715, USA. mehta007@dcri.duke.edu

American Heart Journal
|September 26, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Long-term survival after saphenous vein graft (SVG) intervention is poor, with 24% mortality at 4 years. A new tool helps predict prognosis for patients undergoing SVG interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Interventional Cardiology

Background:

  • Percutaneous intervention of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) is increasingly common.
  • Clinical factors influencing long-term mortality after SVG interventions require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify clinical factors associated with long-term mortality in patients undergoing SVG interventions.
  • To develop a simple bedside tool for risk stratification in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 1019 patients undergoing SVG interventions from 1986-2003.
  • Utilized Cox proportional hazards model to identify mortality predictors.
  • Constructed a nomogram for predicting 4-year survival probability.

Main Results:

  • At a median 4-year follow-up, 24% of patients died.
  • Key predictors of mortality included heart rate, diabetes, heart failure, age, peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, carotid bruit, S3 gallop, and hypertension.
  • A patent internal mammary graft and higher BMI were associated with reduced mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Long-term survival post-SVG intervention is suboptimal.
  • The developed nomogram aids clinicians in advising patients on long-term prognosis.
  • This tool supports improved discharge planning, follow-up, and expectation management.
Abstract

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