Reconstructing diffusely-diseased LAD using long-opening LAD-Endarterectomy followed by direct LIMA anastomosis versus indirect LIMA grafting to an on-lay saphenous vein patch: Comparative prospective study

Surgical revascularization of CAD patients having diffusely-diseased LAD is a difficult surgical problem. Following long LAD-endarterectomy (LAD-LCE), some surgical centers prefer long direct LIMA-to-LAD grafting; others perform LIMA grafts to on-lay SVG patch. Favoring either technique depends on multiple factors and is still questionable. This study was performed to compare the experience and early results of using direct LIMA-to-LAD anastomosis with endarterectomy to indirect anastomosis by LIMA-to on-lay SVGs during standard CABG. Thirty patients who had IHD with diffusely-diseased LAD coronary vessel were included in a prospective comparative study starting from March 2011 till March 2014, in Kasr al Aini's University Hospitals. All patients had diffusely-diseased LAD for which they were subjected to long opening LAD-CE. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (15 patients) underwent direct long segment LIMA-to-LAD implantation with CE; while in group II (15 patients) underwent LIMA grafting on an on-lay SVG. Follow-up was done over the first year postoperatively: major cardiac adverse events, death, MI, hospital readmission, reoperation and/or revascularization were followed since discharge and over one year later. Two patients died in each group (total mortality 13%). In group I, one due to refractory LV failure; and one due to refractory ventricular arrhythmias. In group II, a patient died due to mediastinitis and a second patient died due to progressive liver failure. There were no MI, CHF, or CNS complications. LIMA-to-LAD following long-opening LAD-LCE could be safely-performed using both techniques. Both procedures were technically successful to revascularize diffusely-diseased LAD.