EARLY COMPLICATIONS AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL IN SEVERELY OBESE CORONARY-BYPASS PATIENTS

Our objective was to describe the short-term morbidity of coronary art ery bypass operations and the effect of surgery plus aggressive cardia c rehabilitation on the long-term prognosis of severely obese patients with coronary artery disease. We investigated an inception cohort of 28 consecutive severely obese patients with three-vessel coronary dise ase followed on average for 51 months. The patients' age, preoperative and postoperative weight, risk factors, and cholesterol were measured . We performed coronary artery bypass surgery, then began aggressive c ardiac rehabilitation programs. We recorded intraoperative data, perio perative deaths, complications, readmissions, and lengths of stay. Als o, New York Heart classifications and use of anti-anginal or cholester ol-lowering medications were noted. All patients were followed up. Des pite high morbidity, long-term function and survival of severely obese CABG patients compares favorably with that of average patients. Howev er, aggressive behavior modification fails to alter their postoperativ e weight or risk profile, placing them at risk for both second CABG pr ocedures and continued obesity-related disease occurrences.