Multiarterial Grafting in Redo CABG: Type of Arterial Conduit and Patient Sex Determine Benefit.

Objective: To evaluate whether multiarterial grafting provides incremental benefit above single arterial grafting in isolated redo CABG.

Methods: From 1/1980 to 7/2020, 6559 adults underwent 6693 isolated CABG reoperations. Patients undergoing multiarterial grafting were propensity-score matched with those undergoing single arterial grafting, with or without additional vein grafts, yielding 2005 well-matched pairs. Endpoints were in-hospital postoperative complications, hospital mortality, and long-term mortality. Median follow-up was 10 years with 25% followed >17 years. Multivariable multiphase hazard modeling and nonparametric random survival forests for survival were used to identify patients for whom multiarterial grafting was most beneficial.

Results: Among propensity-matched patients, postoperative complications for multiarterial versus single arterial grafting were any reoperation, 50 (2.5%) versus 65 (3.2%); renal failure, 73 (3.6%) versus 55 (2.7%); stroke, 44 (2.2%) versus 38 (1.9%); and deep sternal infection, 36 (1.8%) versus 25 (1.2%). Hospital mortality was 1.7% (n=35) versus 2.8% (n=56) (P=.03). Comparing multiarterial to single arterial grafting, survival at 1 and 3 years was 95% versus 94% and 92% versus 88%, and at 5, 15, and 20 years, survival was 87%, 49%, and 31% versus 82%, 42%, and 25%. Better survival after multiarterial grafting was confined to males with 2 patent internal thoracic artery grafts (P<.0001).

Conclusions: Redo CABG with multiarterial grafting can be performed with lower in-hospital mortality and similar major morbidity to single arterial grafting. It is associated with better long-term survival, particularly in males when 2 internal thoracic artery grafts are used.