Coronary artery bypass grafting in Takayasu’s disease – importance of the proximal anastomosis: a case report

A 25-year-old white woman with a documented history of TA and total occlusion of her left main coronary artery received a CABG (LITA-LAD) in 2004. In 2012, two episodes of angina, due to graft failure, were treated by percutaneous coronary interventions using a Xience Prime drug-eluting stent. Unfortunately she was referred back to our hospital with signs of unstable angina after an initial symptom-free period of 4 months. During this period she received two platelet inhibitors (ticagrelor 90 mg, orally twice a day and Ascal (carbasalate calcium) 80 mg once a day), metoprolol 150 mg, ramipril 2.5 mg, simvastatin 40 mg, isosorbide mononitrate 60 mg twice a day and one dose of methotrexate (2 mg) every week in combination with folic acid. A clinical examination showed no abnormalities, besides a significant difference in blood pressure to the prejudice of the left side with absent radial pulsations. Her chest X-ray showed a normal heart size. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed T-wave depression in the precordial and lateral leads. Blood biochemical and hematological parameters, including cardiac enzymes, were within normal range. A computed tomography angiogram was performed revealing a thickened aortic wall at the level of the aortic arch with a normal diameter and occlusion of her left subclavian and left pulmonary artery. The coronary angiogram revealed a total occlusion of her left main coronary artery and recurrent graft failure, with significant double in-stent restenosis of 99 % in the LITA-LAD. Her left coronary system was filled by collaterals from the right, dominant, system (Fig. 1).

In consultation with the patient we decided on a re-CABG using a Dacron (Vascutek®, Renfrewshire) patch on her aorta for the proximal anastomosis which was performed on 6 September 2012. Intraoperatively we encountered a thickened and inflamed aortic wall, in which the left lateral side was severely affected. We performed redo CABG using a SVG to the anterolateral, first diagonal and LAD. For the proximal anastomosis an oval Dacron (Vascutek®, Renfrewshire) patch was tailor-made by the surgeon and attached to her side-clamped aorta. Subsequently, the venous graft was sutured into the patch using prolene. Biopsies from the ascending aortic wall and the LITA proximal to the stent were taken. Histological examination of the aortic wall specimen demonstrated extensive changes including significant intima proliferation without calcification and a nonspecific chronic inflammatory response with widespread fibrosis (Fig. 2). The LITA specimen showed some reactive changes but no specific inflammatory characteristics. Both the intraoperative and postoperative courses were uneventful and the patient was discharged 5 days after surgery. Fraxiparine (nadroparin) injections (0.3 ml) were added to the medical regimen and Ascal (carbasalate calcium) dosage was increased to a 100 mg once a day.

Since then, the patient routinely visits the cardiology out-patient clinic. Her last examination (October 2015) revealed no signs of recurrent coronary perfusion problems: she reported no angina complaints during exercise, an electrocardiogram revealed no abnormalities and echocardiography showed no signs of left ventricular dysfunction or wall-motion abnormalities. Since December 2014 she stopped taking methotrexate because of an active pregnancy wish. Despite the withdrawal of immunosuppressive medication her TA is still in remission to date.

Coronary involvement in patients with TA is frequently seen. There are many revascularization methods such as endarterectomy, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), drug-eluting stents, ostioplasty and CABG, of which the optimal method is yet to be determined. Since patch angioplasty and endarterectomy are associated with higher long-term restenosis rates, surgical procedures with bypass grafts seem preferable [6‐8]. Coronary lesions in patients with TA are mostly located at the ostia or the proximal coronary segment of the left main coronary artery and these locations are deemed unsuitable for percutaneous techniques [9]. Unfortunately, CABG in patients with TA brings many difficulties. Due to possible involvement of the internal mammary arteries in TA, SVGs are mostly used as graft material [2, 3]. Using SVGs, restenosis rates up to 50 % have been reported, which are significantly higher compared to rates of patients with coronary disease due to atherosclerosis [10]. Occlusion of the proximal ostium of the anastomosed site, resulting from intimal hypertrophy, is the most reported late complication in patients with TA undergoing CABG [11]. To avoid graft failure and complications caused by manipulating an inflamed aorta, different techniques have been described to attach the SVG to the aorta. If possible, the proximal anastomosis should be sutured on a healthy region of the ascending aorta and the operation should preferably be performed in a non-active stage of the disease. In addition, postoperative use of steroids is recommended in patients with clinical and serological signs of active disease.

Only few cases of inserting a proximal anastomosis in patients with TA have been reported in the literature. For example Yamaguchi et al. reported a case were aortic connectors were employed for the proximal anastomosis in an off-pump CABG [12]. Using the connectors, the proximal anastomosis can be made faster and without clamping the ascending aorta. The procedure is impossible if there is no suitable place for the connector on a severely inflamed aorta [12]. Another way to prevent SVG occlusion caused by inflamed aortic tissue is to insert the proximal anastomosis on an autogenous pericardial patch or on a prosthetic patch [13]. Others described the use of a pericardial patch to combine coronary ostioplasty with insertion of the proximal anastomoses [14]. Despite the abovementioned techniques complication rates remain high, and there is a need for improvement. In particular, literature reports are inconclusive about the best way to insert the proximal anastomosis in CABG.

No consensus has been reached on the best way to insert a proximal anastomosis on inflamed aortic tissue. We are the first to report an uncomplicated case in which a Dacron (Vascutek®, Renfrewshire) prosthetic patch was used to insert the proximal anastomosis on an inflamed aorta. The patch prevents contact between inflamed tissue and the graft, which we believe reduces the risk of graft failure.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.