Angiographic appearance of patent saphenous vein grafts more than 25 years after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Nine patients with ten angiographical patent saphenous vein grafts (SVG) more than 25 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital between 1976 and 1992 were reviewed. Patent SVG disease was assessed using the FitzGibbon classification, and clinical characteristics which might affect the longevity of SVG were retrospectively evaluated. The mean duration between surgery and current coronary angiography was approximately 30 years (25-35 years). There were two perfectly patent SVGs (FitzGibbon AI, 35 and 32 years after surgery), both of which were bypass grafts to the left anterior descending arteries (LAD). The other eight grafts exhibited some vein graft disease (BII:3, BIII:5). The sequential anastomosis was performed for 5 SVGs. The SVGs bypassed to the good run-off LAD, sequential bypass, strict medical management including cessation of smoking and body weight control may contribute to the slow progression of vein graft disease after CABG.