Patency of Sequential versus Single Vein Grafts in Coronary Bypass Surgery

Authors:
  • HMH. Meurala
    H. Meurala
  • MVM. Valle
    M. Valle
  • PHP. Hekali
    P. Hekali
  • KSK. Somer
    K. Somer
  • MFM. H. Frick
    M. H. Frick
  • PHP.-T. Harjola
    P.-T. Harjola

Abstract
The patency and graft flow of sequential (seq. SVBG) and single saphenous vein bypass grafts (single SVBG) in coronary bypass surgery were compared angiographically (mean follow-up 26 months) in 76 patients with 36 seq. SVBGs (75 distal anastomoses) and 85 single SVBGs. The late patency of all seq. SVBG anastomoses (94.7%) was higher than that of single SVBGs (80.0%). No early or late graft occlusions were seen in the side-to-side (SSA) anastomoses of the seq. SVBGs. The cine-angiographically determined mean volume flow in the proximal segments of the seq. SVBGs was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that in the distal segments of the seq. SVBGs or in the single SVBGs at both early and late follow-up. Despite the higher late patency rate (88.9% us. 80.0%) in the end-to-side anastomoses (ESA) of the seq. SVBGs, the mean graft flow was significantly lower in the distal segments of seq. SVBGs than in the single SVBGs (71 ml/min vs. 109 ml/min, p < 0.05).