Influence of chronic total occlusions on coronary artery bypass graft surgical outcomes.

Background: Presence of epicardial coronary artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) predicts higher referral rates for coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, the impact of coronary artery CTO on CABG outcomes has never been systematically studied.

Method: We examined one-year outcomes in 605 consecutive Veterans, discharged post-CABG between June 2005 and December 2008.