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Factors affecting suitability for coronary bypass surgery
H Vik-Mo1, R Danielsen, J Nordrehaug
1Department of Clinical Physiology, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen, Norway.
Insights
Peripheral coronary atherosclerosis and reduced left ventricular (LV) function are key factors making patients unsuitable for coronary bypass surgery. These findings aid in surgical candidacy assessment for angina pectoris.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) management often involves coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- Patient selection for CABG is crucial to optimize outcomes and resource allocation.
- Identifying factors predicting unsuitability for CABG is essential for clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively identify factors contributing to unsuitability for coronary bypass surgery in patients with severe angina pectoris.
- To determine the prevalence of unsuitability for CABG in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective assessment of 324 consecutive patients with serious angina pectoris undergoing cardiac catheterization.
- Analysis of patient characteristics, coronary anatomy, and left ventricular (LV) function.
- Stepwise logistic regression to identify predictors of surgical unsuitability.
Main Results:
- 31% (100/324) of patients were deemed unsuitable for CABG.
- Common reasons for unsuitability included peripheral coronary atherosclerosis (44%), stenotic/occluded arteries supplying small or infarcted areas (35%/25%), and reduced global LV function (15%).
- Older age (>65), female sex, prior myocardial infarction, single-vessel disease, and low LV ejection fraction were associated with unsuitability.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral coronary atherosclerosis and impaired global left ventricular function are primary determinants of unsuitability for coronary bypass surgery.
- The number of stenotic coronary arteries and LV ejection fraction are significant predictors of surgical candidacy.
- These findings support refined patient selection protocols for CABG.
Abstract:
Factors responsible for unsuitability for bypass surgery were assessed prospectively in 324 consecutive patients with serious angina pectoris undergoing cardiac catheterization. One hundred patients were found to be unsuitable for surgery (31%). These patients usually had peripheral coronary atherosclerosis (44%), stenotic/occluded artery distributing to an infarcted (35%) or small area (25%), or reduced global left ventricular (LV) function (15%). Age over 65 years (p less than 0.05), female sex (p less than 0.05), previous myocardial infarction (p less than 0.05), 1-vessel disease (p less than 0.01) and a low LV ejection fraction (p less than 0.01) occurred more often in patients not accepted for surgery. Of the patients with 3-vessel disease 75% were referred for surgery while only 25% of patients with 1-vessel disease (p less than 0.001) Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified LV ejection fraction as an inverse predictor (p less than 0.001) and number of stenotic coronary arteries as a predictor (p less than 0.001) of suitability for surgery. Thus, peripheral coronary atherosclerosis and global LV function are the main factors determining unsuitability for coronary bypass surgery.