The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 86, 435-440, Copyright © 1983 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Comparison of early and long-term results with intraoperative transluminal balloon catheter dilatation and coronary artery bypass grafting
AJ Roberts, RS Faro, RL Feldman, CR Conti, DG Knauf, JA Alexander and CJ Pepine
Twenty-six patients with chronic stable angina underwent intraoperative
coronary artery balloon catheter dilatation and concomitant coronary artery
bypass grafting (CABG). In one patient (3.8%) the catheter could not be
passed through the arterial narrowing, and in two patients (8%) early
angiographic evidence for arterial damage was detected. Postoperative
angiographic data were available in 85% of patients early (mean 10 days)
and in 50% of patients late (mean 12 months). Early results showed one
perioperative myocardial infarction, 100% relief of angina, and no
operative mortality. Compared to preoperative studies, of 23
angiographically visualized distal narrowings dilated in an antegrade
fashion, 12 (52%) were unchanged, two (9%) were worse, and nine (39%) were
improved. Those arterial segments with discrete distal narrowings (n = 13)
had better angiographic results than those with diffuse distal narrowings
(n = 9). In 49% of the former and in 22% of the latter arterial narrowings,
improvement (increased luminal diameter) was documented postoperatively. In
addition, there were four proximal narrowings which were dilated in a
retrograde fashion; three were unchanged and one was improved compared to
preoperative studies. Only one of 27 dilated segments (3%) was totally
occluded postoperatively. Late results showed two patients (8%) developed
recurrent chest pain and one patient (4%) died related to congestive heart
failure. The two patients who had angiographically documented coronary
arterial intimal injury showed evidence of resolution at late study. In 13
distal narrowings, six (46%) were unchanged, three (23%) were worse, and
four (31%) were improved compared to the preoperative appearance. In 10
distal narrowings visualized both early and late postoperatively, nine were
unchanged and one was worse. In summary, coronary artery balloon catheter
dilatation during CABG is relatively safe and is associated with acceptable
clinical results. Angiographic evidence for improvement is less than
symptomatic relief postoperatively. Therefore, objective evaluation may be
necessary for accurate determination of operative results. The need for a
national registry related to intraoperative angioplasty is probably
warranted.