LOWER VALUES OF INTRAOPERATIVE CORONARY GRAFTS TRANSIT TIME FLOW MEASUREMENTS OBSERVED IN FEMALE GENDER DO NOT AFFECT EARLY OUTCOME AFTER CABG

Background and Aim: Intraoperative transit time flow measurement (TTFM) of left internal thoracic (L-ITA) and saphenous vein (SV) grafts can improve clinical outcome after CABG. We have retrospectively investigated if there were differences in female and male gender on TTFM–flow (mL/min) and pulsatility index (PI-value)– after CABG, and early outcome. Methods: Between September 2022 and September 2023, TTFM was performed in 101 consecutive patients (21 females, 20%, 80 males, 80%) undergoing CABG, isolated (n=75) or associated with other procedures (n=26). Results: No differences were observed in age (66.2±11 vs 66.9±9 years), Euroscore-2 (4.2±3 vs 3.8±3), left ventricular ejection fraction (54±8% vs 52±9%) (P>0.5, for all comparisons). Associated procedures were more frequently performed in females (47.6% vs 20%; P<0.05). Left anterior descending artery (1.4±0.2 vs 1.6±0.2 mm; P=0.001), obtuse marginal branch (1.3±0.2 vs 1.5±0.3 mm; P<0.05), right posterior artery (1.2±0.2 vs 1.4±0.3 mm; P<0.05) diameters were smaller in females. TTFM flow of L-ITA or SV grafts on the left anterior descending artery (28±9 vs 38±18 mL/min; P<0.05), obtuse marginal branch (27±15 vs 42±28 mL/min; P<0.05), right posterior descending artery (29±11 vs 36±19 mL/min; P>0.5) was lower in females. No PI-value differences were observed in the coronary arteries territories (3.9±0.8 vs 3.7±0.9; 3.8±0.5 vs 3.9±1; 3.5±0.9 vs 3.3±1) (P-values>0.5). There were no operative major cardio-vascular complications; respiratory failure occurred in 3 male patients. Conclusions: Our data show that female patients have smaller coronaries and lower TTFM values than men, but no difference in PI-values. However, clinical results are similar.