BACKGROUND: The diffusely diseased left anterior descending coronary artery ( @entity3980 ) remains a challenge for both interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. In this study we assessed the surgical outcomes obtained from coronary artery reconstruction, with or without endarterectomy, for a diffusely diseased @entity3980 . METHODS: Two hundred and fifty @entity1 were treated with an extended @entity3980 reconstruction, with or without endarterectomy, as part of coronary artery bypass grafting to achieve complete revascularization. The @entity3538 ( @entity3538 ) was used to reconstruct the @entity3980 in all @entity1 . There were 197 @entity1 and 53 @entity1 . The mean age was 65.1 +/- 9.0 years. Coronary artery reconstruction was performed without endarterectomy in 183 @entity1 (73.2%) and with endarterectomy in 67 @entity1 (26.8%). The off-pump technique was used in 204 @entity1 (81.6%). RESULTS: The operative mortality was 1.6%. Perioperative @entity583 was observed in 6.4% of the @entity1 . The mean @entity3980 incision length was 4.3 +/- 1.7 cm. The patency rate of the @entity3538 to @entity3980 was 98.6% by early angiographic examination (mean, 7.5 +/- 2.6 postoperative days). There were 3 late cardiac-related @entity204 at a mean follow-up of 21.2 +/- 10.7 months. The actuarial survival was 92.0% at 45 months. Freedom from @entity204 or cardiac events was 88.1% at 45 months. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery reconstruction, with or without endarterectomy, using the @entity3538 for a diffusely diseased @entity3980 can be performed with acceptable early and midterm results.

Long segmental reconstruction of diffusely diseased left anterior descending coronary artery with XXXX with or without endarterectomy.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'men'] @entity3538 :: ('MESH:D002341', 'Disease') :: ['LITA', 'left internal thoracic artery'] @entity3980 :: ('MESH:C535887', 'Disease') :: ['LAD'] @entity583 :: ('MESH:D009203', 'Disease') :: ['myocardial infarction'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['deaths', 'death']
@entity3538 :: (MESH:D002341,Disease) :: ['left internal thoracic artery']
