Equivalent 10-year angiographic and long-term clinical outcomes with saphenous vein composite grafts and arterial composite grafts.

We compared 10-year graft patency rates and long-term clinical outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using the saphenous vein composite grafts based on the left internal thoracic artery with those using total arterial composite grafts. A total of 483 patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using composite grafts based on the left internal thoracic artery were included. The saphenous vein was used as a second (connected to the left internal thoracic artery; n = 63) or a third (connected to the second arterial graft; n = 40) composite graft in 103 patients (SV group); total arterial composite grafting was performed in 380 patients (ART group). A propensity score-matched analysis was used to match the SV group to the ART group (n = 103 patients in each). The median follow-up duration was 128 (97-139) months. There were no differences in operative mortality and postoperative complication rates between the 2 matched groups. Propensity score-matched analyses showed no differences in the overall survival and freedom from cardiac death rates between the 2 groups (P = .369 and P = .206, respectively) up to 12 years after surgery. Freedom rates from reintervention and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were also similar between the 2 matched groups (P = .695 and P = .758, respectively) up to 12 years after surgery. Generalized mixed-effects models showed that the 2 matched groups demonstrated no differences in overall and composite graft patency rates during 10 years after surgery (P = .568 and P = .702, respectively). The saphenous vein composite grafts were equivalent to arterial composite grafts in terms of 10-year graft patency and long-term clinical outcomes.

Hwang HY ，Lee Y ，Sohn SH ，Choi JW ，Kim KB ... -  《-》

A randomized comparison of the Saphenous Vein Versus Right Internal Thoracic Artery as a Y-Composite Graft (SAVE RITA) trial: One-year angiographic results and mid-term clinical outcomes.

The Saphenous Vein Versus Right Internal Thoracic Artery as a Y-Composite Graft (SAVE RITA) trial was designed to evaluate the noninferiority of the saphenous vein (SV) compared with the right internal thoracic artery ([R]ITA) used as a Y-composite graft. A total of 224 patients who had undergone off-pump revascularization for multivessel coronary artery disease using the SV or RITA as a Y-composite graft based on the in situ left ITA were assigned randomly to the SV Y-composite graft (SV group, n = 112) or free RITA Y-composite graft (RITA group, n = 112). The primary endpoint was the 1-year angiographic patency rate of the second limb conduits (SV or RITA). Postoperative 1-year coronary angiograms were performed in 215 patients (SV group, 108; RITA group, 107). The overall graft patency rate was 97.4% (745 of 765) at 1 year (97.9% in the SV group vs 96.9% in the RITA group, P = .362). The primary endpoint of the study, the 1-year patency rate of the SV composite grafts, was 97.1% (238 of 245) and was noninferior to that of the RITA composite grafts (97.1% [198 of 204]) with a 95% lower confidence limit of -2.6% (P < .001 for noninferiority). The graft qualities, evaluated using the FitzGibbon patency grades, were also similar between the 2 groups (P = .948). No statistically significant differences were found in the overall survival rates between the 2 groups at 1 and 4 years (P = .998). Also, no statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups in the freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event rates at 1 and 4 years (P = .597). The SV composite grafts were noninferior to the RITA composite grafts in terms of the 1-year angiographic patency rates.

Kim KB ，Hwang HY ，Hahn S ，Kim JS ，Oh SJ ... -  《-》

Equivalency of Saphenous Vein and Arterial Composite Grafts: 5-Year Angiography and Midterm Clinical Follow-Up.

We compared 5-year graft patency rates and midterm clinical outcomes of saphenous vein (SV) composite grafts with those of total arterial (TA) composite grafts in patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB). Three hundred sixty-three patients who underwent OPCAB using composite grafts based on the left internal thoracic artery were studied. The SV was used as a second (connected to the left internal thoracic artery) or a third (connected to the second arterial graft) composite graft in 90 patients (SV group); TA composite grafting was performed in 273 patients (TA group). Follow-up was complete in 96.4% of patients (350 of 363), with a median follow-up of 82 months. Five-year graft patency rates and long-term clinical outcomes were compared. A propensity score-matched analysis was also performed to minimize differences in preoperative and intraoperative variables (n = 69 in each group). There were no differences in operative mortality and postoperative complications between the SV group and TA group. Actuarial 5-year patency rates of the venous and arterial composite grafts were 89.3% and 89.5%, respectively (p = 0.958). Those were also similar between the two propensity score-matched SV and TA groups (90.5% and 89.3%, respectively; p = 0.759). Five-year overall survival and freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were 88.5% and 85.6%, respectively. Those were similar between the two groups before and after propensity score matching. The SV composite grafts were equivalent to arterial composite grafts in terms of 5-year graft patency rates and midterm clinical outcomes.

Hwang HY ，Lee KH ，Han JW ，Kim KB ... -  《-》

A randomized comparison of the Saphenous Vein Versus Right Internal Thoracic Artery as a Y-Composite Graft (SAVE RITA) trial: early results.

The Saphenous Vein Versus Right Internal Thoracic Artery as a Y-Composite Graft trial was designed to evaluate the saphenous vein compared with the right internal thoracic artery as a Y-composite graft anastomosed to the side of the left internal thoracic artery. In this early analysis, we compared early angiographic patency rates and clinical outcomes. From September 2008 to October 2011, 224 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease were randomized prospectively to undergo off-pump revascularization using the saphenous vein group (n = 112) or the right internal thoracic artery group (n = 112) as Y-composite grafts. Early postoperative (1.4 ± 1.1 days) angiographic patency and clinical outcomes were compared. There was 1 operative death in the right internal thoracic artery group. No statistically significant differences in postoperative morbidities, including atrial fibrillation and acute renal failure, were observed between the groups. The number of distal anastomoses using the side-arm Y-composite graft (saphenous vein vs right internal thoracic artery) were 2.3 ± 0.8 and 1.9 ± 0.7 in the saphenous vein and right internal thoracic artery groups, respectively (P < .001). A third conduit was used in 44 patients (saphenous vein group vs right internal thoracic artery group, 4/109 vs 40/110; P < .001) to extend the side-arm Y-composite graft for complete revascularization. Early angiography demonstrated an overall patency rate of 99.4% (771 of 776 distal anastomoses). Patency rates of the side-arm Y-composite graft (saphenous vein vs right internal thoracic artery) were 98.8% (245 of 248) and 99.5% (207 of 208) in the saphenous vein and right internal thoracic artery groups, respectively (P = .629). A third conduit was needed to extend the right internal thoracic artery composite graft and reach the target vessels in 36.4% (40/110) of the patients. The saphenous vein composite graft was comparable with the right internal thoracic artery composite graft in terms of early angiographic patency and clinical outcomes.

Hwang HY ，Kim JS ，Oh SJ ，Kim KB ... -  《-》

Angiographic equivalency of off-pump saphenous vein and arterial composite grafts at one year.

We compared midterm clinical outcomes and 1-year graft patency rates of saphenous vein composite grafts with those of total arterial composite grafts in patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Three hundred forty patients who underwent OPCAB using composite grafts based on the left internal thoracic artery were studied. Total arterial revascularization using arterial composite grafts was performed in 263 patients (ART group) and the saphenous vein was used as an additional composite graft in 77 patients (SVG group). Clinical outcomes and early and 1-year postoperative angiographic results were compared. No differences in early mortality or perioperative complications were observed between the groups. Early postoperative (1.7 + or - 1.7 days) angiography demonstrated a saphenous vein graft patency rate of 97.1% (132 of 136), which was not different from that of arterial composite grafts (98.7% [631 of 639], p = 0.240). One-year postoperative (12 + or - 1 months) angiography showed an overall patency rate of 93.4% (886 of 949). The patency rate of saphenous vein grafts at 1 year was 92.1% (105 of 114), which was similar to that of arterial composite grafts (91.0% [499 of 550], p = 0.640). Patency rates of venous grafts according to target coronary artery territories were also similar to those of arterial composite grafts. Reintervention-free survival rates at 2 years were 90.6% (ART) and 91.3% (SVG) (p = 0.970). No differences were observed in overall survival rates between the groups (p = 0.792). Our clinical and angiographic results demonstrated that the saphenous vein may be used as an alternative composite graft to the arterial composite graft.

Hwang HY ，Kim JS ，Kim KB 《-》