Coronary artery bypass grafting for dialysis patients: Usefulness of multiarterial bypass

This study assessed the efficacy of multiarterial bypass in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in dialysis patients. Eighty dialysis patients who underwent CABG were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of 38 patients in whom the left internal thoracic artery and additional saphenous vein gr aft (SVG) had been used. Group B consisted of 42 patients in whom 2 or 3 ar terial grafts and additional SVGs had been used. No mediastinitis was shown in either group. Actuarial survival rates. including all deaths, and estim ated by cardiac deaths at 8 years, were 28% and 83%, respectively, in Group A and 93% and 100%, respectively, in Group B with a significant difference (p = 0.014 and 0.016, respectively). Cardiac event-free rates at 8 years w ere 43% and 96% in Groups A and B, respectively, with a significant differe nce (p = 0.0016). Multiarterial grafting improved long-term results after C ABG for dialysis patients compared with single internal thoracic artery gra fting with minimal complications related to graft harvesting.