Transit time flow measurement as a predictor of graft failure and major adverse cardiac events following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery

Introduction Our aims were to characterize the differences in transit time flow measurement (TTFM) between failed and normal grafts, and to determine the association between TTFM and related clinical factors and the likelihood of graft failure and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) following coronary artery bypass grafting. Material and methods A retrospective observational analysis was performed on 279 patients admitted between 2017 and 2019, to compare the differences in TTFM between failed and normal grafts, and the association between TTFM and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) – specifically angina, myocardial infarction, and death. Results There were no differences in TTFM between failed and normal grafts. There was a greater number of failed grafts with pulsatility index (PI) > 5 compared to PI ≤ 5 (χ² = 4.021, p = 0.045). Multivariate analysis showed no significant association between TTFM and MACE. Increased risk of graft failure is associated with the female gender (p = 0.031), history of congestive heart failure (p = 0.025), and poor renal function (p = 0.034). Increased risk of MACE is associated with a history of coronary intervention (p = 0.041), left coronary dominance (p = 0.018), and renal function (p = 0.009). Conclusions Patency of graft is influenced by gender, congestive heart failure, and renal function, while MACE is influenced by history of coronary intervention and renal function.