title: Gender differences in quality of distal vessels: effect on results of coronary artery bypass grafting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The quality of target vessels may affect gender differences in outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting. This prospective study compares preoperative angiographic assessment of vessel quality with intraoperative visual assessment of size and presence or absence of diffuse disease. The effect of vessel quality on operative mortality and late survival is examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were prospectively collected on 1939 consecutive patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting by a single surgeon. Quality of target vessels was assessed preoperatively (angiogram) and intraoperatively by inspection and probe calibration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vessels were poorly visualized in 29% of female patients and 37% of male patients (P =.004), although all but 1.6% of target vessels were grafted. Women were no more likely than men to have small vessels (<1.5 mm) (57% vs 59%, P =.449) and were less likely to have distal disease (45% vs 53%, P =.005). Operative mortality was low, not statistically different in women versus men (1.3% vs 0.7%, P =.237), and increased in patients with distal disease (1.3% vs.03%, P =.021). Late survival was decreased in patients with poor left ventricle function, congestive heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease. Late survival was decreased in men with increased age, class IV symptoms, small size, and no left internal thoracic artery graft, and in women with recent myocardial infarction and preoperative cerebrovascular accident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that in most patients with poorly visualized vessels in the preoperative angiogram, complete revascularization can be achieved if one is willing to graft small or diffusely diseased vessels. Women are no more likely than men to have vessels less than 1.5 mm in size and are less likely to have diffuse disease. Such an approach is associated with a low operative mortality and good long-term survival. Predictors of late survival were different for men and women. Neither small vessel size nor diffuse disease was an independent predictors of poor late outcome.
authors.affiliation: Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, USA, M5G 2C4, Canada. lynda.mickleborough@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Lynda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Mickleborough
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ivanov
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000401:mortality; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome