Is combined abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and coronary artery bypass grafting feasible?

Background. Significant coronary artery disease requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) may co-exist with large abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in some patients. We reviewed our experience in either staged or simultaneous operation. Methods. The records of all patients receiving both CABG and AAA repairs in recent 7 years were retrospectively reviewed. The patient demographics, severity of coronary disease, AAA size, duration of staged procedures, perioperative morbidity and mortality rates as well as the hospital cost were analyzed. Results. From June 1993 to Sept 2000, totally 14 patients received both CABG and AAA repair, including 6 patients for simultaneous operation (group A, 42.8%) and 8 for staged operation (group B, 57.2%) with CABG first. Patients in the group A were younger and with larger AAA. There was neither operative mortality in both group nor interprocedure AAA rupture in group B. Total postoperative hospital stay and hospital cost were significantly decreased in group A than in group B rehospitalized patients. Conclusions. Simultaneous CABG and AAA repair is feasible in surgical technique. In those younger patients with larger AAA, combined surgery could be performed as safely as staged procedures.