Triple arterial coronary revascularization using the radial artery and bilateral internal mammary arteries versus the gastroepiploic artery and bilateral internal mammary arteries

Arterial grafts are frequently used in modem coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the benefit of the 2 internal mammary arteries (IMA) has already been established. However, the choice of the third arterial conduit, in addition to the IMA, is controversial. We have retrospectively analized perioperative and the follow-up results of patients who underwent CABG with triple arterial bypass using either the radial artery (RA) or the gastroepiploic artery (GEA) in conjunction with the bilateral IMA (BIMA). Between December 1995 and June 2001, 1,516 consecutive isolated CABG operations were performed at Shin-Tokyo Hospital. Among them the RA and BIMA were used in 96 patients (78 males, 18 females; mean age, 63.2 +/- 6.7 years, group R), and the GEA and BIMA in 123 patients (101 males, 22 females; mean age, 61.0 +/- 11.6 years, group G). Their perioperative and follow-up data were studied. The preoperative risk factors were similar between the 2 groups, except that there were significantly fewer patients with renal dysfunction in group R. The surgical results did not differ between the 2 groups; however, the GEA was more commonly used for revascularization of the right coronary artery, while the RA was used for the diagonal, circumflex or right coronary arteries. Surgical mortality and morbidity rates were not significantly different. During the follow-up period of 2.3 +/- 1.6 years, the event-free rates as well as the survival rates were not significantly different. CABG with either the RA or the GEA in conjunction with the BIMA can be performed safely. The surgical results as well as the follow-up results were acceptable and no significant differences between the 2 groups were observed.