Outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting performed in young children

Antoine Legendre1, Alain Chantepie, Emre Belli

  • 1Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Hopital Clocheville, CHRU et Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France. antoine.legendre@nck.aphp.fr

Insights

Coronary artery bypass grafting using arterial grafts shows good patency in children under 3 years old. This procedure is a viable option for pediatric coronary revascularization but requires careful follow-up.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

  • Arterial grafts offer high long-term patency for pediatric coronary artery bypass grafting.
  • Patency rates in children under 3 years of age remain less certain.
  • This study addresses outcomes in this specific young pediatric population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term patency of arterial grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for children under 3 years of age.
  • To assess the feasibility and outcomes of CABG in this young pediatric cohort.
  • To determine the suitability of CABG as a revascularization strategy in infants and toddlers.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of 18 children under 3 years old (median age 4 months) who underwent 20 CABG operations using arterial grafts between July 1988 and July 2007.
  • Indications included coronary artery complications post-arterial switch operation, congenital coronary anomalies, and Kawasaki disease.
  • Graft patency was assessed postoperatively with a mean follow-up of 55 months.

Main Results:

  • Of 19 assessed bypass grafts, one was occluded and two required percutaneous intervention.
  • Two sudden deaths occurred postoperatively (at 3.5 and 4.6 months), one with an occluded graft and one with a patent graft and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • A generally good patency rate was observed in this cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Coronary artery bypass grafting with arterial grafts is a potential alternative for coronary revascularization in very young children.
  • Despite a favorable patency rate in this series, the procedure presents technical challenges.
  • Careful long-term follow-up is essential for pediatric patients undergoing CABG.
Abstract