Graft Patency Assessment with CCTA Using a Comprehensive Singlebranch Bridging Score

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to assess the prognostic value of graft patency with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) using a comprehensive single-branch targeted atherosclerotic risk score (CSBS) in patients before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: This retrospective study contains a total of 88 patients who underwent clinical CCTA before off-pump CABG surgery between 2015 and 2018. Graft failure was defined as patients with missing multi-slice CCTA or coronary angiography. The predictive value of CSBS (ranging from 0-70 and divided into 2 groups: < 20 and ≥20) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models.

Results: Patients' mean age was 61.2 ± 10.5 years, with a mean follow-up of 20.4 ± 15.2 months. A total of 203 grafts (21.5% arterial grafts) were analyzed and 30 of the vessels were occluded (14.8%). There was no significant difference in graft occlusion among the three targeted vessel groups. The Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that CSBS < 20 was a significant predictor of graft failure.

Conclusion: Lower comprehensive single-branch targeted atherosclerotic risk score evaluated by CCTA is an independent prognostic factor for graft failure in patients before CABG surgery.

Keywords: Coronary artery disease; comprehensive single-branch targeted atherosclerotic risk score; coronary artery bypass grafting; coronary computed tomography angiography; graft failure.