Reoperation for bleeding following coronary artery bypass surgery with special focus on long-term outcomes.

We studied the incidence and risk factors of reoperation for bleeding following CABG in a nationwide cohort with focus on long-term complications and survival. A retrospective study on 2060 consecutive, isolated CABG patients operated 2001-2016. Outcome of reoperated patients ( = 130) were compared to non-reoperated ones ( = 1930), including major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and overall survival. Risk factors for reoperation were determined using multivariate logistic regression and a Cox proportional hazards model to assess prognostic factors of long-term survival. Median follow-up was 7.6 years. : One hundred thirty patients (6.3%) were reoperated with an annual decrease of 4.1% per year over the study period (=.04). Major complications (18.5 vs. 9.6%) and 30-day mortality (8.5 vs. 1.9%,) were higher in the reoperation group (<.001). The use of clopidogrel preoperatively (OR 3.62, 95% CI: 1.90-6.57) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 2.23, 95% CI: 1.25-3.77) were the strongest predictors of reoperation, whereas off-pump surgery was associated with a lower reoperation risk (OR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22-0.85). After exluding patients that died within 30 days postoperatively, no difference in long-term survival or freedom from MACCE was found between groups, and reoperation was not an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in multivariate analysis. The reoperation rate in this study was relatively high but decreased significantly over time. Reoperation was associated with twofold increased risk for major complications and fourfold 30-day mortality, but comparable long-term MACCE and survival rates. This implies that if patients survive the first 30 days following reoperation, their long-term outcome is comparable to non-reoperated patients.