The impact of incomplete revascularization and angiographic patency on midterm results after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Objectives Higher rates of incomplete revascularization (IR) and reduced patency are possible drawbacks of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB); both may adversely affect outcome after surgery. This study was conducted to shed light on the relationships among IR, angiographic patency, and midterm results after OPCAB surgery. Methods A total of 1604 consecutive patients underwent OPCAB during a 6-year period; 1581 patients (95%) underwent systematic postoperative angiography. Complete follow-up was achieved in 99.5% (median, 3.2 years; up to 6.5 years). A total of 216 patients had IR (13%), and 225 had at least 1 graft failure (FitzGibbon B or O). Results All the event-free survival rates for all-cause mortality ( P P  = .020), and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events ( P Conclusions Incomplete revascularization was relevant to higher midterm mortality after OPCAB, whereas the risk of reintervention was higher for patients with occluded grafts. Complete revascularization, coupled with achievement of a higher patency rate, could be expected to improve follow-up outcomes after OPCAB surgery.