Does preoperative computed tomography reduce the risks associated with re-do cardiac surgery?

A best evidence topic was written according to the structured protocol. The question addressed was whether preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan reduces the risk associated with re-do cardiac surgery. A Medline search revealed 412 papers, of which seven were deemed relevant to the topic. We conclude that preoperative CT angiography using ECG-gated multi-detector scan enables excellent anatomical details of heart, aorta and previous grafts, and highlights high-risk cases due to adherent grafts or ventricle or aortic atherosclerosis. This allows for better risk stratification and change of surgical strategy to reduce the potential risk in patients coming for re-do cardiac surgery. According to published reports, high-risk CT-scan findings in these patients caused clinicians to cancel surgery in up to 13% of cases, while preventive surgical strategies including non-midline approach, peripheral vascular exposure or establishing cardiopulmonary bypass prior to re-sternotomy have been reported in over two-thirds of patients with significant reduction in the operative risk. The risk of damage to vital structures, including previous grafts, heart or larger vessels is generally reported fewer than 10%, with evidence of significantly lower incidence of intra-operative injuries in patients who had prior CT-scans compared to those who did not. Hence, adequate preoperative imaging using ECG-gated multi-slice CT is essential for optimum planning of re-do cardiac surgery.