Fast-track failure after cardiac surgery: development of a prediction model.

Objective: Risk factors for unsuccessful fast-tracking of cardiac surgery patients have not been collectively defined in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for fast-track failure and incorporate them into a predictive fast-track failure score.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Can the use of the radial artery be expanded to all patients with different surgical grafting techniques? Early clinical and angiographic results in 600 patients.

Objective: The use of the radial artery (RA) as a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is gaining in popularity worldwide and is being increasingly adopted by many cardiac surgeons. Encouraged by our satisfactory early experience with the use of the RA conduit, we have expanded its use to more than 90% of all coronary surgery patients. The aim of the present study was to review our clinical and angiographic results when the use of the RA conduit was expanded to all patients including those aged 65 years and older and diabetics with different surgical grafting techniques.

Use of radial artery graft reduces the morbidity of coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients aged 65 years and older.

Background: The use of the radial artery graft in patients aged 65 years and older could prevent the occurrence of leg wound infection, which is known to increase the morbidity of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Methods: We reviewed, retrospectively, 261 patients aged 65 years and older (age range 65 to 93 years), who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery between February 1998 and August 2001. All the patients received at least one radial artery graft in addition to either a left internal thoracic artery, right internal thoracic artery, or saphenous vein graft as required.