Early and long-term results of coronary artery bypass grafting in dialysis patients

We evaluated the surgical outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting in dialysis patients. We retrospectively analyzed 25 consecutive dialysis patients requiring isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. Their mean age was 61.6 years and average dialysis duration 80.4 months. Eight patients (32%) had emergency or urgent surgery. The mean number of bypassed vessels was 3.3 +/- 1.2. Internal thoracic artery grafts were used in 19 patients and gastroepiploic artery grafts in 5. Two (8%) died during hospitalization and complications occurred in 11 (44%). No cerebral complications were observed. All survivors showed ameliorated symptoms and improved overall function. Of 14 late deaths, 5 were cardiac-related, with 2 involving obvious myocardial ischemic events. Actuarial survival, including hospital deaths, at 1 year was 70.9%, at 3 years was 43.5%, and at 5 years was 34.8%. Cardiac-death-free survival was 70.2% at 3 years and 70.2% at 5 years. Coronary artery bypass grafting in dialysis patients is associated with a higher incidence of complications but has acceptable surgical mortality and effectively relieves angina symptoms.