Outcomes of single versus sequential vein grafts in isolated coronary artery bypass surgery: Insights from a large tertiary care center

Abstract

Background

Saphenous venous grafts remain the most widely used conduits in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Data comparing outcomes of single saphenous venous grafting (SinCABG) versus sequential venous grafting (SeqCABG), however, are limited.

Methods

Between 2002 and 2012, 2375 patients with 3-vessel coronary artery disease underwent isolated elective CABG at the Leipzig Heart Center with a left internal mammary artery graft to left anterior descending artery and ≥2 distal saphenous vein graft anastomoses. Of these, 1278 received ≥2 singular saphenous venous grafts (SinCABG) and 563 received ≥1 sequential saphenous vein grafts with >1 distal anastomoses (SeqCABG). The primary end point was long-term survival. Secondary outcomes included short-term survival, early postoperative outcomes as well as early and late graft patency.

Results

At 30 days, mortality was 1.3% after SinCABG as compared with 2.3% after SeqCABG (P = .13). The postoperative complications rate did not differ between groups. Early postoperative coronary angiographies were performed in 127 patients (7%), whereas clinically indicated follow-up coronary angiographies were performed in 372 patients (20%) over a median follow-up of 5 years (interquartile range, 1.7-8.9). No differences in early or late patency rates were found between both grafting techniques (P = .79 and P = .39, respectively). The median duration of long-term clinical follow-up was 8.4 years (interquartile range, 5.6-11.4). Long-term survival rates at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years in SinCABG versus SeqCABG were 95% versus 94%, 83% versus 82%, 63% versus 62%, and 47% versus 41%, respectively (P = .22).

Conclusions

Short- and long-term mortality as well as early and late graft patency rates did not differ in patients undergoing SinCABG as compared with patients undergoing SeqCABG.