Acute coronary angiography after coronary artery bypass grafting

Objectives Coronary angiography is the golden standard when myocardial ischemia after CABG occurs. We summarize our experience of acute coronary angiography after CABG. Design All 4446 patients (mean age 68 +/- 9 years, 22% women) who underwent CABG 2007 to 2012 were included in this retrospective observational study. Incidence, indications, findings, measures of acute angiography after CABG was assessed. Outcome variables were compared between patients who underwent angiography and those who did not. Results Eighty-seven patients (2%) underwent acute coronary angiography. Patients undergoing angiography had ECG changes (92%), echocardiographic alterations (48%), hemodynamic instability (28%), angina (15%), and/or arrhythmia (13%). Positive findings were detected in 69% of the cases. Only ECG changes as indication for angiography had a moderate association with positive findings, but the precision increased if other sign(s) of ischemia were present. Thirty-day mortality (7% versus 2%, p = 0.002) was higher and long-term-cumulative survival lower (77% versus 87% at five years, p = 0.043) in angiography patients. Conclusions Acute angiography is a rare event after CABG. Postoperative myocardial ischemia leading to acute coronary angiography is associated with increased short-term and long-term mortality.