Predictors and outcomes of cardiac complications following elective coronary bypass grafting

Our objective was to determine the predictors of cardiac complications amon g a cohort of elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients and to determine the relationship of such complications to subsequent qual ity of life and symptoms. A total of 248 patients were enrolled and 237 com pleted 6 month follow-up. The combined rate of both major and minor cardiac complications was 9.7% (n = 24). patients in this study were evaluated pre operatively, monitored intraoperatively, followed immediately postoperative ly and at 6 months. Major cardiac complications accounted for 3.6% (n = 9) and minor complications for 6% (n = 15). Using multivariable logistic regre ssion analysis, the predictors of major cardiac complications were receivin g diuretics preoperatively (p = .01) and increased time during cross-clampi ng (p = .006). At 6 months after surgery, 19% of the patients with postoper ative cardiac complications experienced worsening of symptoms, in contrast to only 8% of those without cardiac complications (p = .03). We concluded t hat patients who were on preoperative diuretics and those who had longer cr oss-clamp times were at higher risk of cardiac complications. The majority of patients who had acute cardiac complications had improved function and s ymptoms at 6 months postoperatively.