BACKGROUND: Most of our patients with coronary artery disease have undergone bypass exclusively with purely internal thoracic artery grafts (PITA). Our goal has been to lengthen the time a patient benefits from coronary bypass operations. The present report describes an 8.5-year study of outcomes including mortality and the need for reintervention in patients who have undergone bypass with PITA. METHODS: We studied 897 patients who underwent PITA with a total of 3,784 internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts (4.2 grafts per patient). Connecting ITA to ITA along with sequential anastomosis made the procedure possible. RESULTS: Early mortality for the group was 2.3%. Freedom from death was 86% and freedom from reintervention was 94% at 5 years after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The acceptable early and late mortality and the 94% freedom from reintervention as long as 8.5 years after operation in this group of patients inspire us to continue choosing PITA for patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND: Most of our patients with coronary artery disease have undergone bypass exclusively with purely internal thoracic artery grafts (PITA). Our goal has been to lengthen the time a patient benefits from coronary bypass operations. The present report describes an 8.5-year study of outcomes including mortality and the need for reintervention in patients who have undergone bypass with PITA. METHODS: We studied 897 patients who underwent PITA with a total of 3,784 internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts (4.2 grafts per patient). Connecting ITA to ITA along with sequential anastomosis made the procedure possible. RESULTS: Early mortality for the group was 2.3%. Freedom from death was 86% and freedom from reintervention was 94% at 5 years after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The acceptable early and late mortality and the 94% freedom from reintervention as long as 8.5 years after operation in this group of patients inspire us to continue choosing PITA for patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease.
Authors: M de Mulder; C J M Broers; E K Jansen; H B R M de Swart; H O J Peels; M L M Lieuw-A-Fa; V A W M Umans Journal: Neth Heart J Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 2.380