Heart failure after CABG

Abstract

In the last several decades, the major underlying etiology of heart failure (HF) has shifted from hypertension to coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is the most common cause of heart failure. HF is a highly prevalent syndrome with a poor prognosis, resulting in substantial morbidity and reduced quality of life despite recent advances in treatment. Also, HF is the most common cause of hospital admission in the United States and Europe, and HF hospitalization per se is linked to adverse outcome and high-treatment costs. Despite the progress in the management, the mortality rates remain high, with only modest improvements in survival during the past decades. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common cardiac surgical procedure and an effective method of relieving angina and improving the prognosis for selected patients with ischemic heart disease. The patients with ischemic heart failure with prior CABG show a pattern similar to that seen in patients without prior CABG. Beyond surgery, optimal secondary prevention, including medications and lifestyle modifi cation, may have signifi cant infl uence on prolonging vein graft patency and/or reducing clinical events rates in patients undergoing CABG surgery.