Effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on fatal and non-fatal complications early after surgery for non-ischemic valvular heart disease and associated coronary artery disease

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) routinely is employed during non-ischemic valve surgery for patients with associated coronary artery disease. However, the impact of this strategy is not fully understood. While theoretically beneficial, it may involve risks that would favor staged procedures, possibly including percutaneous coronary angioplasty for revascularization. We assessed the impact of CABG on early post-operative complications in patients with combined valvular plus coronary disease. Our data suggest that selective avoidance of CABG may minimize perioperative risks, and requires further evaluation.