Regaining the Rhythm: Early Outcomes After Reinstating Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in a Previously Suspended Center

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the early outcomes of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures performed at a center that had temporarily suspended surgical services due to a shortage of surgical staff and later resumed operations.
METHODS: A total of 42 patients who underwent isolated on-pump CABG between January 2023 and February 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, preoperative risk factors, intraoperative variables, and early postoperative outcomes were evaluated using descriptive statistical methods.
RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 61.9±10.3 years, and 71.4% were male. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (31.0%), diabetes mellitus (38.1%), and chronic kidney disease (7.1%). The mean ejection fraction was 52.7%, and the mean body mass index was 26.3 kg/m². All patients underwent surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean CPB time was 67.9 minutes, and the cross-clamp time was 39.4 minutes. The average hospital stay was 8.2±3.9 days. Early postoperative complications included acute kidney injury (11.9%), new-onset atrial fibrillation (14.3%), respiratory failure (7.1%), stroke or transient ischemic attack (9.5%), wound infection (4.8%), and reoperation (11.9%). The early mortality rate was 7.1%.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The early outcomes of CABG surgeries performed in our reactivated center are within acceptable limits regarding complication rates. The findings suggest that the surgical program was successfully restructured and patient safety was maintained. However, further prospective studies with larger patient series are required for more robust evaluation of outcomes.

Keywords: Coronary artery bypass, health care quality, mortality, postoperative complications