The effect of coronary reoperation on the survival of patients with stenoses in saphenous vein bypass grafts to coronary arteries

Does coronary artery reoperation improve the survival of patients with stenoses in saphenous vein bypass grafts to coronary arteries? To examine this question, we retrospectively reviewed 1117 patients who had coronary bypass grafting and then underwent a postoperative coronary angiogram that showed a stenosis (≥20%) of at least one vein graft. Reoperation within 1 month of the postoperative angiogram was performed for 394 patients (REOP group) whereas 723 patients MED group) received initial medical treatment (no reoperation or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty within 1 year). Compared with the MED group, patients in the REOP group were older, more symptomatic, more likely to have left main stenosis, and had fewer patent bypass grafts (all p<0.001)