Immediate and 5-Year Outcomes after Surgery in Patients with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

pp 437-441

Abstract

Background
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery still remains as the treatment of choice of patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease; however, there are few previous studies with local data on the outcomes of this type of surgery.

Objectives
To describe immediate and 5-year outcomes of a series of coronary surgeries in patients with LMCA disease.

Material and Methods
From 2003 to 2007, 174 consecutive coronary artery bypass graft surgeries to the LMCA were analyzed. The procedures had been performed by three Associated Surgical Centers. The following outcomes were assessed 30 days and 5 years after surgery: cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, major cardiovascular events, need of a new revascularization and survival free of symptoms. Curves were compared with expected survival rates for the same age group and sex.

Results
Multiple lesions were present in 90.8% of patients. Mortality rate was 4.0% at 30 days, similar to the rate expected according to EuroSCORE (6.4%, OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.21-1.78; p=0.333); major cardiovascular events included myocardial infarction (2.9%) and stroke (1.7%). Total follow-up was 506 patient-years (12 to 60 months) and involved 91% of patients. When cardiovascular mortality was considered, survival rate at 5 years was 83.7%, similar to the one expected in the general population. However, when all cause-mortality was considered, survival at 5 years decreased to 77.6% (p=0.436). During the same period, survival free of symptoms and of new revascularization was 72.2% and 88.1%, respectively.

Conclusions
In our series of patients subjected to coronary artery bypass graft surgery due to LMCA disease, operative mortality was somewhat lower than expected according to EuroSCORE, with rates of stroke and myocardial infarction between 1.7% and 2.9%. At 5-year follow-up, survival was similar to that expected in the general population for the same age group, and survival free of angina and revascularization was 72% and 88%. Finally, 90% of LMCA lesions were associated with multiple coronary obstructions, and these conditions are unlikely to be treated with angioplasty. The results analyzed in this study were consistent with the findings previously published in international bibliography.