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Background: The long-term benefit of multiple arterial grafts for coronary artery bypass (CABG) is not clear. This protocol was elaborated to see if multiple arterial grafts would provide better long-term outcomes when compared with conventional strategies., Methods: Prospective data was collected for 588 patients undergoing isolated CABG between 1985 and 1995. We analyzed long term survival and freedom from cardiac death. The analysis compared patients with BITA grafting receiving a right gastro-epiploic artery (RGEA) versus those receiving a saphenous vein graft (SVG) as a third conduit. Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to adjust for relevant confounders., Results: The mean age was 59±9 years and 49% received BITA. Mean follow-up was 16.1±5.4 years. Multivariable analysis revealed in that patients receiving the RGEA as a third conduit had superior overall survival (HR, 0.46; P=0.015) and cardiac survival (HR, 0.20; P=0.005) compared to those receiving an SVG., Conclusions: In our experience, the use of multiple arterial grafting is independently associated with superior outcomes. Furthermore, the use of a third arterial conduit targeted to the RCA should be considered to improve long-term survival.

Background: To evaluate the effect of higher post-operative valve gradient on freedom from valve re-intervention and death in patients undergoing aortic valve repair (AVr)., Methods: Patients who underwent AVr between March 1996 and June 2010 were divided into 2 groups: I: peak gradient (PG) <20 mmHg (n=358) and II: PG ≥20 mmHg (n=113). Age (53.6±16.0 vs. 50.6±16.4 years; P=0.08), impaired LV (n=44, 12.2% vs. n=12, 10.6%: P=0.73) as well as the body surface area (1.97 vs. 1.95 m(2); P=0.4) were similar. Pre-operative AI >2+ was greater in Group II compared to Group I (n=78, 69.0% vs. n=192, 53.6%; P=0.004). Patients in Group II had higher proportion of bicuspid valves (BV) (n=58, 51.3% vs. n=106, 29.6%; P=0.0001) and restrictive valves (n=34, 30.0% vs. n=52, 14.5%; P=0.0001) while Marfan patients were seen only in Group I (n=19; P=0.010). Mean follow-up for Group I and Group II was 123.1±89.7 and 147.1±108.0 months, respectively., Results: In-hospital mortality was n=2 (0.5%) for Group I and none for Group II (P=1.0). Valve-sparing was higher in Group I (P=0.0001) but sub-commissural annuloplasty was similar (P=0.15). Shaving and/or decalcification was performed more in Group II (n=68, 60.1% vs. n=117, 32.6%; P=0.0001). Logistic regression analysis identified calcified, restrictive and bicuspid valves as independent predictors of PG ≥20 mmHg (P=0.04 for each). Predictors of re-operation were increased end-diastolic diameter (P=0.03) and younger age (P=0.007), but not PG ≥20 mmHg (P=0.98) (based on logistic regression). Overall 10-year cardiac survival and freedom from AV re-intervention was 82.3±4.6% vs. 89.5±4.2% (P=0.53) and 89.1±3.0% vs. 76.8±8.4% (P=0.02), in Group I and II, respectively (based on Kaplan-Meier analysis). Sub-group analysis showed that Group II patients requiring re-intervention (n=10) were younger (41.8±13.1 vs. 51.0±16.0 years; P=0.08) with similar proportion of bicuspid valves (n=6; 60%; P=0.74). The main reason for AV re-operation was aortic insufficiency (n=7) and AI + stenosis (n=3)., Conclusions: Higher gradient after AVr is associated with a reduced freedom from AV re-intervention, especially in younger patients.