Comparing Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting With and Without Using the Internal Mammary Artery in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Purpose The left internal mammary artery in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is considered to be an important intraoperative quality indicator with excellent long-term results. The purpose of this study is to compare the early outcomes of CABG with and without the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in the South Asian population and to look for the utilization of LIMA as per the recommendations of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in a developing country. Materials and methods A retrospective review was carried out for all patients who underwent CABG from 2010 to 2015. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of whether LIMA was used (Group I) or not used (Group II) as a conduit. Both groups were further subdivided into elective and urgent. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were recorded and compared. Results After exclusion, a total of 2619 patients underwent isolated CABG surgery during the required duration. The LIMA was used in 94% of the patients (n=2472) while 147 patients underwent CABG without LIMA. The use of LIMA was associated with significantly lower mortality (2% LIMA vs 8.8% no LIMA), as well as a decrease in major comorbidity, stroke, and prolonged ventilation. In the subgroup analysis, LIMA usage in elective and urgent cases was associated with significantly lower mortality (elective 1.6% LIMA vs 7.4% No LIMA) (urgent 4.8% LIMA vs 15.7 % no LIMA)) and major morbidity. Conclusion The outcomes of CABG procedures without LIMA were not encouraging. Our results support compliance with standard adult cardiac surgery quality-of-care guidelines.