Early and Long-term Results of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Dialysis Patients

Background: Dialysis patients frequently present with debilitating coronary artery disease but are regarded as challenging patients for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: The operative, early postoperative, and late results of 44 dialysis patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting from 1984 to 1997 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Compared with patients in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, only cerebrovascular accident and postoperative cardiac arrest occurred more frequently in dialysis patients. However, 73% experienced some type of complication. Operative mortality was 11.4%. Decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and severe distal disease were predictive of increased operative mortality. New York Heart Association angina class fell from 2.8 to 1.5, and New York Heart Association congestive heart failure class fell from 2.6 to 1.8. Overall quality-of-life scores did not improve; however, walking distances remained consistently improved. Actuarial survival at 5 years was 32.0%+/-12.0%. Five-year survival was 0% for smokers and 83.6%+/-7.6% for nonsmokers (p = 0.0142). Causes of late death were myocardial infarction (4), sepsis (1), subdural hematoma (1), stroke (1), and unknown (6).

Conclusions: Coronary artery bypass grafting should be avoided in dialysis patients with severe diffuse disease. A smoking history is associated with poor outcome. Coronary artery bypass grafting in dialysis patients is associated with a higher incidence of complications but can be performed with an acceptable operative mortality and is associated with good symptomatic relief of angina and heart failure.