Background: Incomplete revascularization negatively affects survival after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Since gender and classification technique might impact outcome and reporting, we investigated their effect on revascularization patterns and mortality.
Methods: A cohort of bypass patients (N = 1545, 23% women) was enrolled prospectively. The degree of revascularization was determined as mathematical difference between affected vessels upon diagnosis and number of grafts or the surgeon's rating on the case file.
Results: Although men displayed more triple-vessel disease, they obtained complete revascularization more frequently than women (85% versus 77%, P < 0.001). The two calculation methods identified analogous percentages of incompletely revascularized patients, yet there was only a 50% overlap between the two groups. Mathematically, more women, older patients, and patients with NYHA class III/IV appeared incompletely revascularized, while the surgeons identified more patients undergoing technically challenging procedures. Regardless of the definition, incompleteness was a significant risk factor for mortality in both genders (mathematical calculation: HR 2.62, 95% CI 1.76-3.89, P < 0.001; surgeon: HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.35-3.89, P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Given the differences in identification patterns, we advise that the mathematical calculation be performed after-procedure in all patients regardless of the surgeons' rating to uncover additional subjects at increased risk.