Right gastroepiploic artery graft: long-term clinical follow-up in 271 patients--experience of a single center

J Card Surg. 2006 Nov-Dec;21(6):539-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2006.00292.x.

Abstract

Background and aim: We present our experience in the use of right gastroepiploic artery (rGEA). Long-term clinical results are reported.

Methods: From April 1994 to June 2005, 271 patients (257 males, mean age 56.2 +/- 7.1) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with the use of rGEA. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were retrospectively collected and clinical results and survival were examined. The end points of follow-up were death and recurrence of cardiac events such as angina and myocardial infarction (MI). The mean follow-up was 8.2 +/- 2.9 years.

Results: Left ventricular ejection fraction ranged from 0.20 to 0.68 (mean 0.55 +/- 0.7). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 96.8 +/- 15.8 minutes and the mean cross-clamping time was 69.7 +/- 14.2 minutes. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 3.3 +/- 0.7 (range 2 to 5). Early mortality was 2.6% and postoperative MI occurred in three patients. There were 21 (7.9%) late deaths and three of them (1.2%) were cardiac related. Actuarial 10-year-survival of all deaths, including in-hospital death, was 70.8%+/- 9.9%. No abdominal complications occurred during or after rGEA harvesting. Seven patients have been suffering of recurrence of angina. Angiography was performed only on those patients with recurrent angina.

Conclusion: The rGEA can be considered as a valid arterial conduit, relatively easy to harvest, safe to use with low perioperative risks, and good mid- and long-term results. The low early and late rate mortality and the satisfactory clinical results are good reasons for using routinely this conduit in selected patients.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coronary Artery Bypass*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / surgery
  • Female
  • Gastroepiploic Artery / transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stomach / blood supply*
  • Vascular Patency