Long-term results of sequential vein coronary artery bypass grafting compared with totally arterial myocardial revascularization: a propensity score-matched follow-up study

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyse the early and long-term outcomes of a consecutive series of patients who underwent sequential coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to compare them with a matched population of totally arterial revascularized patients. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 1% in the ART group and 0.4% in the SV group (P= 0.86). Mean follow-up was 14 ± 4 years. Long-term survival was comparable among the two study groups (actuarial 5- and 15-year survival rates were 97 vs 93% and 82 vs 79% in the ART group and the SV group, respectively (P= 0.29)). At follow-up, recurrence of angina (17 vs 18%; P= 0.99), acute myocardial infarction (MI) (3 vs 5%; P= 0.72) and repeated percutaneous coronary intervention (19 vs 21%; P= 0.69) were similar in the ART group compared with the SV group. In the Cox regression analysis, type of revascularization was not an independent predictor of any long-term outcomes (death or major adverse cardiac events). In asymptomatic patients, exercise stress test at follow-up was comparable between the two groups (P= 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Sequential vein CABG appears to have good early and long-term clinical outcomes. Also, early and long-term incidence of acute MI was not significantly higher in the SV group. However, further studies with a larger population are warranted in order to confirm the present results.