Introduction: Most patients that undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are around 70 years of age when operated on. We investigated the outcome of CABG in patients 50 years and younger, focusing on early complications, operative mortality and long-term survival.
Material and method: A retrospective study on 1626 patients that underwent CABG in Iceland 2001-2012. One hundred patients aged 50 years or younger were compared to 1526 older patients.
Results: The male:female ratio, risk factors and extension of coronary artery disease were comparable in both groups, as was the proportion of patients with left main disease. Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in the younger patients (52 vs. 55%, p=0.004) and more of them had a recent myocardial infarction (41 vs. 27%, p=0.003). Minor complications were less common in the younger group (30 vs. 50%, p<0.001), especially new onset atrial fibrillation (14 vs. 35%, p<0,001). Chest tube bleeding for the first 24 hours postoperatively was also less in the younger group (853 vs. 999 ml, p=0.015) and they received fewer units of packed red cells (1.3 vs. 2.8 units, p<0.001). However, the incidence of major complications was comparable (6 vs. 11%, p=0.13) and the same was true for 30 day mortality (1 vs. 3%, p=0.5). Mean hospital stay was 2 days shorter for younger patients (p<0.001). There was a non-significant trend for improved disease-specific survival for the younger patients, or 99% vs. 95% 5-year survival (p=0.07).
Conclusion: In younger patients undergoing CABG minor complications are less common than in older patients, their hospital stay is shorter and transfusions less common. There was also a trend for improved disease specific survival for the younger patients.