European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 11, 528-532, Copyright © 1997 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Morbidity and mortality in 200 consecutive coronary reoperations
L Noyez, SH Skotnicki and LK Lacquet
Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, St. Radboud, Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE: The morbidity and mortality of coronary reoperations is still
higher than in primary myocardial revascularization. In the present paper
we analyzed the relation between several preoperative and peroperative
variables and the perioperative morbidity and mortality of coronary
reoperations. METHODS: The data of 200 consecutive patients undergoing
isolated aortocoronary bypass reoperation were studied by univariate and
multivariate analysis. The mean age was 59 years (range 44-83 years), 163
(81%) patients were male and 37 (19%) female. The overall hospital
mortality was 8.5% (17/200), and in 32/200 patients (16%) a perioperative
myocardial infarction was noted. RESULTS: By univariate analysis, a
myocardial infarction before the initial operation and a myocardial
infarction between the initial operation and the reoperation, peripheral
vascular disease, diabetes, anginal status and perioperative myocardial
infarction were identified as factors influencing the operative mortality.
Multivariate analysis identified perioperative myocardial infarction and
anginal status as predictors of hospital mortality. Further analysis
identified peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, delivery way
(ante/retrograde) of cardioplegic solution, and anginal status as
univariate predictors of perioperative myocardial infarction. The only
significant multivariate predictor of perioperative myocardial infarction
was the anginal status. CONCLUSION: The anginal status (New York Heart
Association > or = IV-A) is the dominant variable in predicting the
operative outcome in coronary reoperations, and a decrease of the operative
mortality and perioperative infarction rate can be expected by avoiding 'so
called' emergency reoperations.