Effect of lipid exposure on graft patency and clinical outcomes: Arteries and veins are different

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the influence of lipid exposure upon conduit patency in long-term follow-up after primary CABG. METHODS: From a prospectively compiled database, we identified 1207 grafts (436 SV and 771 mixed arterial grafts) among 413 CABG patients with 9.4 ± 2.4 years of follow-up (range 3-13). Surveillance angiography was performed as part of a randomized trial. All available lipid assays were collected from pathology laboratories, and from these, mean annualized lipid exposure was calculated for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides. Angiographical and clinical data were analysed against lipid exposure. Graft failure was defined as occlusion, string sign or >80% stenosis..