Results
Clinical outcomes
There were no perioperative deaths or myocardial infarctions in the presented groups. Median values of maximum troponin-I serum level were 1.05mcg/L (0.62-6.89mcg/L) in the OB group, and 1.3mcg/L (0.97-3.41mcg/L) in the nOB group (ns). The mean number of performed grafts were 2,2 +/- 0,6 (93+/- 7% revascularization rate). A two-year follow-up (897 +/- 123 days) (29.9 +/- 4.1 months) was completed for 48 individuals (96%) and revealed 96% survival rate without episodes of documented myocardial infarctions.
Blood flow in arterial grafts
In the OB group, the median value of graft measurement blood flow through RIMA was 6 mL/min (4-13) with pulsation index (PI) of 3.3±1.3, through LIMA – 10 mL/min (3-13) with PI of 3.1±1.2, and through RA – 2mL/min (2-11) with PI of 3.1±1.2, respectively.
In the nOB group, median flow through RIMA was 15 mL/min (8-27) with PI of 3.1±1.4, through LIMA – 18mL/min (9-25) with PI of 3.1±1.0, and through RA – 16 mL/min (14-34) with PI of 3.3±1.2, respectively. All calculated medians of arterial grafts flow were significantly higher in the nOB group and p value was 0.0043 for RIMA, 0.0023 for LIMA, and 0.0214 for RA (Figure 1).
Parameters of inflammation
Preoperative whole blood count data including two commonly accepted indices of inflammatory reaction, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), are presented in Table 1. These two parameters were significantly higher in the OB group.
GRAFT FLOW and NLR
Higher values of NLR were associated with lower blood flow. Even more interestingly, a significant (p<0.05) although moderate positive correlation was found between BMI and the aforementioned inflammation indices (Figures 2 and 3), and a negative one between BMI and LAD diameter (r=-0.34). Additionally, a significant (p<0.05) yet also only moderate negative correlation (r=-0.33) was noted between LAD diameter at the site of anastomosis and PLR.