CAS-OPCABG vs OPCABG-alone in patients with asymptomatic carotid Stenosis: Multi-center experience

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the relationship between carotid stenting and off-pump coronary artery grafting (CAS-OPCABG) and OPCABG only in patients with asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis.

Methods: This study retrospectively included 669 patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis who underwent OPCABG at multiple centers. After propensity score matching for baseline characteristics, the study compared two groups of patients with clinical data, early and midterm death, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI).

Results: After matching, there was no significant difference between two groups at baseline. The rates of early stroke, midterm stroke, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were significantly lower in the CAS OPCABG group, yet the use of the internal mammary artery (IMA) was comparatively lower. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in midterm mortality between two groups. In the bilateral asymptomatic carotid stenosis subgroup, the early stroke rate was significantly lower after CAS-OPCABG, but there was no significant difference in the unilateral carotid stenosis subgroup. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified previous atrial fibrillation, previous stroke, aortic atherosclerosis, bilateral carotid stenosis and the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) as significant risk factors for early postoperative stroke, CAS emerged as a protective factor. Use of IMA was found to be a protective factor against postoperative mortality.

Conclusions: CAS-OPCABG is an efficacious and safe approach for the treatment of asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis, effectively decreasing the incidence of postoperative stroke.