Identification of Critical Risk Factors in CABG Surgery: A Survey-Based Expert Opinion Study

Introduction: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery is a commonly performed cardiac procedure globally.This research represents the first step towards creating a machine learning-driven hybrid system for evaluating risks in CABG surgery.Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify reliable, unbiased, and prevalent risk assessment variables for the development of this system through a survey conducted among experts in the field of cardiovascular surgery.Methods: This research began with an extensive review of the literature, identifying 37 preoperative variables correlated with short-term mortality after CABG.A survey was sent to cardiovascular surgery experts, conducted via a secure Google Forms link, using a 5-point Likert scale to evaluate the importance of each factor.Consensus was defined as a factor receiving a rating of 4 or 5 from 75% or more of the participants.Results: The survey reached consensus on 26 out of the 37 identified risk factors.This analysis emphasised the experts' agreement on significant factors, consistent with prior studies on age, past vascular events, and conditions such as diabetes and renal dysfunction.The congruence between this study and the existing literature emphasised the significance of integrating both empirical data and expert opinions in CABG surgery.Conclusion: This study identified the key risk factors for short-term mortality in CABG surgery, based on expert consensus.The results provide a foundation for the development of a more precise risk assessment tool driven by machine learning.By emphasizing the integration of empirical research and expert opinion, this study offers valuable insights for post-operative care and decision-making in CABG surgeries.