Combined coronary artery bypass grafting and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Background: We report here the results of combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and the factors associated with higher mortality following this procedure. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective chart review of 26 patients who underwent combined CABG and AAA repair between March 1990 and October 1996. Results: No postoperative myocardial infarction or major cardiac complications were noted. A morbidity rate of 38% (n = 10) and mortality rate of 11% (n = 3) were noted. Comparative analysis of nonsurvivors (n = 3) versus survivors (n = 23) revealed the following: ejection fraction (EF) was significantly lower (33% ± 3% versus 44% ± 14%, P <0.05), duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was significantly longer (239 ± 122 minutes versus 141 ± 54 minutes, P <0.05), and incidence of postoperative respiratory failure (67% versus 17%, P = 0.001) were significantly higher in nonsurvivors. No differences in mean age, gender distribution, incidence of hypertension or diabetes were noted between the groups. Conclusions: Combined CABG and AAA repair protected patients from postoperative aneurysm rupture and myocardial infarction. Poor EF, prolonged CPB, and postoperative respiratory failure were associated with higher mortality.