Objective: To evaluate the early and mid-results of the use of the radial artery alongside the internal mammary artery for complete arterial revascularization in coronary bypass surgery.
Methods: From January 1999 to January 2005, 123 patients with coronary artery disease with lesions in more than one branch (target vessel), 114 males and 9 females, aged 51.9 +/- 9.4 (32 approximately 74) underwent coronary artery surgery after the complete arterial revascularization pattern. Before the operation the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) value ranged 30% approximately 78%, and 24 patients (21.1%) had poor ejection fraction (with the EF < 50%). Sixty-four patients (52%) had previous myocardial infarction. Four patients with unstable angina received urgent operation. 36 patients (29.3%) had disease of the left main trunk. 74% of the patients underwent off-pump bypass technique. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 2.6 +/- 0.4 per patient. 20 patients were followed up for 62 +/- 12.8 months (36 approximately 80 months).
Results: The early mortality was 0.8%. Postoperative complications included arterial fibrillation in seven patients (5.7%). One patient underwent IABP insertion because of low cardiac output, 3 patients were re-admitted because of heart failure, angina and arrhythmias. Three patients died of cardiac events. One patient underwent redo-CABG due to recurrent myocardial infarction and one patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention because of stenosis of the arterial graft.
Conclusions: Complete arterial revascularization using radial and mammary arteries provides excellent early results, showing a low mid-term complication rate and surgical morbidity.