Argentine Randomized Study: Coronary Angioplasty with Stenting versus Coronary Bypass Surgery in patients with Multiple-Vessel Disease (ERACI II): 30-day and one-year follow-up results. ERACI II Investigators. A comparison of patient teaching outcomes among postoperative coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. Three-year follow-up in a subset of high-risk patients randomly assigned to off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: the Best Bypass Surgery trial. A prospective randomized trial comparing stenting to internal mammary artery grafting for proximal, isolated de novo left anterior coronary artery stenosis: the SIMA trial. Stenting vs Internal Mammary Artery. Different CABG methods in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thromboelastography-based transfusion algorithm reduces blood product use after elective CABG: a prospective randomized study. Effective prevention of atrial fibrillation by continuous atrial overdrive pacing after coronary artery bypass surgery. Randomized trial comparing off-pump to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in high-risk patients.
The purpose of this study was to compare percutaneous transluminal coronary revascularization (PTCR) employing stent implantation to conventional coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in symptomatic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.
                Previous randomized studies comparing balloon angioplasty versus CABG have demonstrated equivalent safety results. However, CABG was associated with significantly fewer repeat revascularization procedures.
                A total of 2,759 patients with coronary artery disease were screened at seven clinical sites, and 450 patients were randomly assigned to undergo either PTCR (225 patients) or CABG (225 patients). Only patients with multivessel disease and indication for revascularization were enrolled.
                Both groups had similar clinical demographics: unstable angina in 92%; 38% were older than 65 years, and 23% had a history of peripheral vascular disease. During the first 30 days, PTCR patients had lower major adverse events (death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization procedures and stroke) compared with CABG patients (3.6% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.002). Death occurred in 0.9% of PTCR patients versus 5.7% in CABG patients, p < 0.013, and Q myocardial infarction (MI) occurred in 0.9% PTCR versus 5.7% of CABG patients, p < 0.013. At follow-up (mean 18.5 +/- 6.4 months), survival was 96.9% in PTCR versus 92.5% in CABG, p < 0.017. Freedom from MI was also better in PTCR compared to CABG patients (97.7% vs. 93.4%, p < 0.017). Requirements for new revascularization procedures were higher in PTCR than in CABG patients (16.8% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.002).
                In this selected high-risk group of patients with multivessel disease, PTCR with stent implantation showed better survival and freedom from MI than did conventional surgery. Repeat revascularization procedures were higher in the PTCR group. Shortened hospitalizations following cardiac surgery necessitate re-evaluation of how pertinent information for self-care management and reduction of coronary artery disease risk factors can be incorporated into an effective inpatient cardiac patient teaching program. This study investigated the effect of three different teaching approaches (i.e., an inpatient teaching program, a postdischarge telephone follow-up program, and a postdischarge group teaching program) among 90 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Teaching outcomes were evaluated in this study by use of the Heart Disease Management Questionnaire and Cardiac Surgical Patient Teaching Satisfaction Inventory. Analyses of the data revealed similar patient teaching outcomes regardless of the type of teaching intervention the participant received. Findings supported the effectiveness of the inpatient teaching protocol which focused on "survival skills" for self-care management postdischarge. The findings are important in the redesign of teaching programs which are efficient yet meaningful to the patient within today's health care environment. Additional findings indicated that patients who had longer lengths of stay and those with more vessels bypassed were the least satisfied with their teaching. Further implications for nurses involved in patient teaching are discussed. To evaluate off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with three-vessel disease and a high-risk operative profile.
                A randomised clinical trial.
                Rigshospitalet, University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
                341 patients with three-vessel disease and a EuroSCORE of 5 or greater. Main exclusion criteria were previous heart surgery, poor left ventricular function (ejection fraction <30%), or unstable preoperative condition.
                CABG performed with versus without cardiopulmonary bypass.
                The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) including all-cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation, low cardiac output syndrome/cardiogenic shock, stroke and coronary reintervention.
                MACCE occurred in 69 (40%) patients allocated to off-pump versus 54 (33%) patients allocated to on-pump CABG during the median 3.7 years of follow-up (HR 1.22; 95% CI 0.86 to 1.75; p=0.26). All-cause mortality was significantly increased in the off-pump group (24% vs 15%; HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.73; p=0.04), but cardiac-related death was not significantly different (10% vs 7%; HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.64 to 2.66; p=0.47). An insignificant trend towards a reduction in myocardial infarction after off-pump CABG was observed (7% vs 14%; HR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.27 to 1.04; p=0.06).
                No significant difference in the primary outcome of MACCE was found between off-pump and on-pump CABG. However, mortality seemed higher after off-pump CABG.
                http://clinicaltrials.gov/number, NCT00120991. To compare coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in patients with proximal, isolated de novo left anterior descending coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%.
                In the multicenter Stenting vs Internal Mammary Artery (SIMA) study, patients were randomly assigned to PTCA and stent implantation or to CABG (using the internal mammary artery). The primary clinical composite end point was event-free survival, including death, myocardial infarction, and the need for additional revascularization. Secondary end points were functional class, antianginal treatment, and quality of life. Analyses were by intention to treat.
                Of 123 patients who accepted randomization, 59 underwent CABG, and 62 were treated with stent implantation (2 patients were excluded because of protocol violation). At a mean +/- SD follow-up of 2.4+/-0.9 years, a primary end point had occurred in 19 patients (31%) in the stent group and in 4 (7%) in the CABG group (P<.001). This significant difference in clinical outcome is due to a higher incidence of additional revascularization in the stent group, the incidence of death and myocardial infarction being similar (7% vs 7%, respectively; P=.90). The functional class, need for antianginal drug, and quality-of-life assessment showed no significant differences.
                Both stent implantation and CABG are safe and highly effective treatments to relieve symptoms in patients with isolated, proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Both are associated with a low and comparable incidence of death and myocardial infarction. However, similar to PTCA alone, a percutaneous approach using elective stent placement remains hampered by a higher need for repeated intervention because of restenosis. Pulmonary dysfunction is still a major problem in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The purpose of this randomized study was to determine the effect of different CABG techniques on pulmonary function.
                Fifty eight patients with severe obstructive pulmonary disease had elective isolated coronary surgery. The surgical methods for the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were standard CABG in 18 patients (group 1), beating heart surgery in 19 patients (group 2), and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCABG) in 21 patients (group 3).
                The earliest extubation time was from group 3 (p < 0.001). The average stay in the intensive care unit was significantly longer in group 1 (2.6 +/- 1.5 days) than in groups 2 (1.4 +/- 0.8 days) and 3 (1.1 +/- 0.8 days) (p < 0.05). The most prevalent respiratory morbidity was atelectasis that developed in 6 patients from group 1, in 2 patients from group 2, and in 3 patients from group 3. Forced expiratory volumes in 1 second (FEV1) obtained in the second postoperative month were significantly lower than preoperative values only in group 1 (p < 0.05). Forced vital capacity (FVC) values were significantly lower than the preoperative values in all three groups (p < 0.05).
                Off-pump bypass surgical procedures are more advantageous than on-pump methods for patients with COPD. These patients can be operated on using the beating heart technique or by using MIDCABG to prevent side effects of CPB on pulmonary function and effects of sternotomy. Bleeding and allogeneic transfusion remain constant problems in cardiac surgical procedures. In this study, we aimed to test the role of a routine thromboelastography (TEG)-based algorithm on bleeding and transfusions in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
                Patients (n = 224) undergoing elective CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass were prospectively randomized into two groups according to transfusion strategy: in group 1 (clinician-directed transfusion, n = 110) need for blood transfusion was based on clinician's discretion and standard coagulation tests and in group 2 (TEG algorithm group, n = 114) kaolin-activated (k) TEG-based algorithm-guided perioperative transfusion management. Transfusion, blood loss, and outcome data were recorded.
                There were no differences in consumption of packed cell units, blood loss, re-exploration for bleeding, and early clinical outcome between the groups. Patients in the TEG group had significantly lower median units of fresh frozen plasma and platelets compared with the other group (p = 0.001). The median number of total allogeneic units transfused (packed cells and blood products) was significantly reduced in the TEG group compared with the other group (median 2, range 1-3 units vs. median 3, range 2-4 units, respectively, p = 0.001). The need for tranexamic acid was significantly diminished in the TEG group compared with the other group (10.3% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 0.007).
                Our results show that routine use of a kTEG-guided algorithm reduces the consumption of blood products in patients undergoing elective CABG. Adopting such an algorithm into routine management of these patients may help to improve clinical outcome and reduce the potential risks of transfusion-related complications and total costs after CABG. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a specific algorithm with continuous atrial dynamic overdrive pacing to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
                Atrial fibrillation occurs in 30% to 40% of patients after cardiac surgery with a peak incidence on the second day. It still represents a challenge for postoperative prevention and treatment and may have medical and cost implications.
                Ninety-six consecutive patients undergoing CABG for severe coronary artery disease and in sinus rhythm without antiarrhythmic therapy on the second postoperative day were randomized to have or not 24 h of atrial pacing through temporary epicardial wires using a permanent dynamic overdrive algorithm. Holter ECGs recorded the same day in both groups were analyzed to detect AF occurrence.
                No difference was observed in baseline data between the two study groups, particularly for age, male gender, history of AF, ventricular function, severity of coronary artery disease, preoperative beta-adrenergic blocking agent therapy or P-wave duration. The incidence of AF was significantly lower (p = 0.036) in the paced group (10%) compared with control subjects (27%). Multivariate analysis showed AF incidence to increase with age (p = 0.051) but not in patients with pacing (p = 0.078). It decreased with a better left ventricular ejection fraction only in conjunction with atrial pacing (p = 0.018).
                We conclude that continuous atrial pacing with an algorithm for dynamic overdrive reduces significantly incidence of AF the second day after CABG surgery, particularly in patients with preserved left ventricular function. The subset of patients most likely to benefit from off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains a controversial issue, but the technique has been proposed to decrease postoperative mortality and morbidity. Th e objective of this study was to compare off-pump to onpump CABG in patients with known risk factors for mortality and morbidity.
                Between October 2001 and September 2002, 65 high-risk patients were prospectively randomized to undergo off-pump or o n-pump CABG. Recruited patients had at least 3 of the following criteria: age greater than 65 years, high blood pressure, diabetes, serum creatinine greater than 133 mol/L, left ventricular ejection fraction lower than 45%, chronic pulmonary diseas e, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, repeat CABG, anemia, and carotid atherosclerosis. Hospital mortality and morbidity were the primary end-points of the study.
                Six patients (9%) crossed over from the original randomized group. Twenty-eight patients averaging 70 +/- 8 years of age underwent 3 +/- 1 grafts off pump, and 37 patients averaging 70 +/- 6 years of age underwent 3.4 +/- 1 grafts on pump. Revascularization was considered complete in 21 (7 5 %) of off-pump patients compared to 33 (89%) of onpump patients (P =.1). There were no hospital deaths in off-pump patients, and 2 patients (5%) undergoing onpump CABG died early following surgery (P =.2). Two offpump (7%) compared to 11 on-pump (30%) of patients presented composite end-points including death, neurological injury, renal failure, respiratory failure, and operative myocardial infarction after CABG (P =.02).
                The present study suggests that off-pump CABG, when technically feasible, significantly reduces morbidity following surgery in a group of high-risk patients.
CABG is associated with reduced rates of major adverse cardiac events, mostly driven by reduced repeat revascularisation. However, the RCT data are limited by follow-up, unrepresentative samples and rapid development of both surgical techniques and stenting. Research on real-world patient population or patient level data meta-analyses may identify risk factors and groupings who may benefit most from one strategy over the other.