Assessment of the Graft Quality and Patency during and after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the gold standard procedure for multi vessels and left main coronary artery disease. The prognosis and survival outcomes of CABG surgery are highly dependent on the patency of the bypass graft. Early graft failure which can occur during or soon after CABG remains a significant issue, with reported incidences of 3–10%. Graft failure can lead to refractory angina, myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, low cardiac output, and fatal cardiac failure, emphasizing the importance of ensuring graft patency during and after surgery to prevent such complications. Technical errors during anastomosis are among the leading causes of early graft failure. To address this issue, various modalities and techniques have been developed to evaluate graft patency during and after CABG surgery. These modalities aim to assess the quality and integrity of the graft, thus enabling surgeons to identify and address any issues before they lead to significant complications. In this review article, we aim to discuss the strengths and limitations of all available techniques and modalities, with the goal to identify the best modality for evaluating graft patency during and after CABG surgery.