Morbidity and mortality in 200 consecutive coronary reoperations.

Abstract

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. 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. 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. 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.