Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure predicts survival in coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients

Jeevan Nagendran1, Colleen M Norris1, Jehangir J Appoo2

  • 1Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Insights

For patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, an elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) significantly worsens long-term survival when left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is already depressed. This highlights LVEDP

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Clinical Outcomes Research

Background:

  • Depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 0.35) is linked to higher mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
  • Elevated preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) is an independent predictor of operative death in CABG patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the long-term predictive value of elevated LVEDP in CABG patients.
  • To investigate the relationship between LVEDP and LVEF in predicting long-term outcomes after CABG.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 6,735 patients undergoing isolated CABG between 1996-2011 from the Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease (APPROACH) registry.
  • Patients were stratified into four groups based on LVEF (≥0.35 or <0.35) and LVEDP (<18 mm Hg or ≥18 mm Hg).

Main Results:

  • Patients with LVEF ≥0.35 demonstrated improved long-term survival compared to those with LVEF <0.35 (p<0.001).
  • In patients with depressed LVEF (<0.35), elevated LVEDP (≥18 mm Hg) was associated with significantly decreased long-term survival (group 2 vs 4, p<0.001).
  • Age, COPD, peripheral vascular disease, dialysis dependence, and congestive heart failure were also significant independent predictors of death (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated LVEDP is a significant predictor of poor long-term survival specifically in CABG patients with a depressed LVEF.
  • LVEDP provides added prognostic value for long-term outcomes in patients with reduced LVEF undergoing CABG.
Abstract