Outcomes among patients with coronary artery bypass grafts presenting with acute coronary syndrome: impact of revascularization

Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis. 2025 Jan-Dec:19:17539447241308047. doi: 10.1177/17539447241308047.

Abstract

Background: Patients post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) can re-present with acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, culprit lesion identification, as well as revascularization, is often challenging. Furthermore, the impact of revascularization in this patient group is relatively unknown.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with previous CABG surgery presenting with ACS.

Methods: Using data from the Manitoba Center for Health Policy, we identified patients treated with CABG between April 1979 and March 2018, who subsequently presented with the primary diagnosis of ACS. Patients were divided into four groups: (1) managed medically and not investigated by cardiac catheterization and (2) investigated by cardiac catheterization and treated (2a) medically, (2b) with PCI, and (2c) with redo-CABG. Inverse probability treatment-weighted survival analyses were performed. Ethical approval was obtained from the local research board.

Results: Nearly 20% of patients treated with CABG presented with ACS at a median of 7.2 years (age at the time of CABG: 66 years (interquartile range: 58-73 years); 75.6% male). Patients treated with PCI (N = 929) demonstrated improved survival compared to the patients investigated by catheterization but treated medically (N = 952; hazard ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.77-0.97, p = 0.02). Patients who underwent redo CABG (N = 171) experienced 13% mortality within the first year, but subsequently, demonstrated a trend toward improved survival.

Conclusion: ACS is not uncommon following CABG. Revascularization is associated with prognostic improvement; however, such could be accounted for by inherent group differences, including comorbidities and coronary anatomy These findings should be validated in a prospective randomized study.

Keywords: acute coronary syndrome; coronary artery bypass surgery; revascularization.

Plain language summary

Efficacy of revascularization for ACS in patients with previous CABGPatients who have had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery can represent with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Not only that culprit lesion identification is challenging, but the impact of revascularization remains relatively unknown in this setting. We have reviewed the provincial repository to identify outcomes among patients with previous CABG presenting with ACS and the impact of revascularization.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / mortality
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / therapy
  • Aged
  • Cardiac Catheterization / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Catheterization / mortality
  • Coronary Artery Bypass* / adverse effects
  • Coronary Artery Bypass* / mortality
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis
  • Coronary Artery Disease / mortality
  • Coronary Artery Disease / surgery
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Manitoba / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* / adverse effects
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* / mortality
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome