title: Indications for and risks in reoperation for coronary artery disease.
abstract: Seventy-one coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reoperations were performed during a 17-year period, comprising 2.7% of all CABG operations. The main indication (in 87%) was vein graft failure alone or combined with other causes. Progression of disease in native coronary arteries was the sole indication in only 4 of the 71 cases. There were seven perioperative deaths, mainly due to myocardial infarction. Significant perioperative complications arose in 36 cases, including intraoperative lesion of a previous left internal mammary graft (16.2%) or of the right ventricle or anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery (2.8%). Postoperative low output syndrome appeared in 13 patients (18.3%), in seven of whom myocardial infarction was verified. Postoperative bleeding required resternotomy in six cases (9.1%). Because of the heightened operative mortality and morbidity risks, indications for redo CABG should be individualized. A well functioning internal mammary artery graft may be a relative contraindication. Accurate knowledge of the previous operation is essential and, especially in young patients, the possibility of reoperation should be taken into consideration at initial CABG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verkkala
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Järvinen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Virtanen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pellinen
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ketonen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luosto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology