How to avoid problems in redo coronary artery bypass.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Redo cardiac surgery still carries higher mortality and increased morbidity as compared with primary coronary revascularizations. Various steps can be taken to decrease the incidences of adverse outcomes. From our experience, we have accumulated safe steps to be taken during the surgical procedure to reach a positive outcome. METHODS: We reviewed our own experience of redo coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) at two institutions during the last 4 years. Though the surgeons were the same at both institutions, because of institutional variability of patient referrals, operative equipment, anesthesia management, and preoperative care, we kept the data separate. Five surgeons performed CABG with almost similar myocardial preservation techniques; however, the surgical skill varied slightly depending on the seniority and clinical experience. We performed 433 redo coronary artery revascularizations at one institution and 201 in the second institution. Fifteen percent of these patients also had additional procedures, such as valve repair, valve replacement, or aneurysm resection. In this patient group, 160 patients underwent either urgent or emergent CABG. Urgent surgery was defined as patient revascularization during the same admission as cardiac catheterization, and emergency surgery was defined as a patient undergoing surgery on the same day as the catheterization, especially when hemodynamic instability was present. The total mortality was 7%, while the elective redo CABG mortality was 3%. The length of stay ranged from 8.5 to 12.6 days. The morbidity included perioperative stroke in 18 patients and nonfatal perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) in 19 patients. Major factors contributing to the mortality were stroke, perioperative bleeding and exploration, renal failure, respiratory failure, and malnutrition. CONCLUSION: We outlined the precautions and safe surgical approaches to be undertaken during redo CABG for a successful outcome.