RITA VS RA as second arterial conduit
Baseline characteristics of patients in the unmatched and matched cohort are presented in Table-4. In the unmatched cohort, patients in the RA group were more likely to be female and obese and to have diabetes, hyperlipidemia and moderate renal impairment. Whereas patients in the RITA group were more likely to be operated on as an emergency or urgent cases and to have arterial hypertension and left main stem disease. After PS-matching, both groups were comparable for all baseline characteristics(Table-4). PS-matching selected 174-pairs and both groups showed good degree of balance.
The mean number of grafts performed and the rate of OPCAB in the RITA group was higher than in the RA group before as well as after PS matching. In the unmatched cohort, the prevalence of IR in the RA group was higher than in RITA group(33.8% vs 22.7%,p=0.0029). However after matching, no difference in terms of incomplete revascularization was observed between both groups(Table-4).
Before as well as after PS-matching, no significant differences were observed between both groups in terms of 30-day mortality, 30-day MACCE, reoperation for bleeding and incidence of DSWI(Table-5).
In the unmatched cohort, survival at-5,-10 and 14-years were 92.6% vs 93.0%, 82.2% vs 77.4% and 75.4% vs 70.8% in the RITA group vs RA group, respectively(Log-rank p=0.27)(Figure.3A). In the matched cohort, Survival at 5, 10 and 14-years were 93.2% vs 93.3%, 77.7% vs 77.8% and 69.6% vs 72.0% in the RITA group vs RA group, respectively(Log-rank p=0.88)(Figure.3B). RA and RITA as second arterial conduit had comparable long-term mortality before(HR:1.22;95%CI;0.82-1.82;p=0.3) as well as after PS-matching(HR:0.96;95%CI;0.58-1.58;p=0.87).
Multivariable analysis identified Age>70, diabetes, severe renal impairment, PVD and impaired LV function as independent predictors of late mortality in patients with 2nd-arterial conduit(Table-3).