Synchronous operation for ischemic cardiac and cerebrovascular disease: early results and long-term follow-up.

The late follow-up of 230 patients who underwent synchronous operation for extensive, obstructive extracranial and coronary artery disease from 1974 to 1989 was analyzed. Mean age at operation was 62.5 years; 161 patients (70%) were in New York Heart Association class III or IV, 185 (80%) had triple-vessel disease, and 67 (29%) had left main stem lesions of 50% or more. Previous myocardial infarctions were present in 132 patients (57%). Only 78 had normal left ventricular function. Included were 16 patients undergoing coronary reoperations, 17 patients with additional cardiac procedures, and 3 with synchronous pulmonary procedures. Symptomatic extracranial vascular disease or stabilized neurological deficits were present in 108 patients. Bilateral hemodynamically significant carotid disease was present in 91 patients and arch vessel lesions in 37. The hospital mortality in 8 patients (3.5%) was due to cardiac (n = 4), neurological (n = 1), or multiorgan failure (n = 3). Operative morbidity was mainly neurological (n = 20, 8.7%): 7 reversible deficits and 7 major strokes occurred, 2 reversible and 5 major strokes were related to the operated side(s), and 4 postoperative myocardial infarctions occurred. Actuarial survival at 5 years was 74% (+/- 3.3), at 10 years 54% (+/- 4.9), and at 15 years, 35% (+/- 6.6). This was mainly determined by late cardiac death (41/66). Late morbidity was mainly attributable to cardiac causes rather than neurological causes. At 5 and 10 years, respectively, 72% and 44% of the patients were free of major cardiac and neurological events or death. Synchronous revascularization can be performed relatively safely. The long-term outcome is determined by the extent and severity of the cardiovascular disease.