• Axel Dimberg, Ulrica Alström, and Mikael Janiec.
• Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Anesthesia, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
• Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2019 Feb 1; 28 (2): 214-221.

ObjectivesRe-exploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery increases the risk of other severe postoperative complications and early mortality. Patients re-explored for bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting are potentially subject to threats to graft patency. Our goal was to assess the effects of re-exploration for bleeding regarding the incidence of coronary angiographies, the need for coronary reintervention and mortality during long-term follow-up.MethodsWithin the SWEDEHEART registry, all isolated coronary artery bypass operations with a single internal mammary artery and saphenous vein graft in patients aged 40-80 between the years 2005 and 2015 were identified. Incidences of coronary angiography and the subsequent need for coronary reintervention were recorded, and multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated.ResultsThe study cohort consisted of 27 957 patients, and the mean follow-up time was 6.5 ± 3.1 years. The incidence of re-exploration for bleeding was 3.8% (n = 1071). The cumulative incidence [95% confidence interval (CI)] of a clinically occurring coronary angiography within 1 year after surgery was 7.8% (6.3-9.7) in re-explored and 4.8% (4.6-5.1) in non-re-explored patients, and the adjusted HR was 1.64 (1.31-2.06), (P < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of the need for coronary reintervention within 1 year (95% CI) was 4.9% (3.7-6.4) in re-explored and 2.6% (2.4-2.8) in non-re-explored patients, and the adjusted HR was 1.91 (1.43-2.56). No difference in incidence or hazard ratio was observed beyond the first year. Mortality rate was increased within but not beyond 90 days after surgery.ConclusionsRe-exploration for bleeding is associated with an increased risk for the need of repeat coronary reintervention during the first year after coronary artery bypass surgery.

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