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Background and Aim: The biological behaviour of coronary graft conduits over time may be considered by serial angiography., Methods: A single institution retrospective cohort received mostly clinically indicated angiography between 1997 and 2020, following coronary bypass surgery. Only perfectly patent grafts (absence of any lumen irregularity) for each conduit type at the first postoperative angiogram were selected for a later comparison. The latest angiograms were at least 5 years postoperatively, and at least 1 year after first postoperative angiogram. Analysis was done according to each graft (anastomosis). Comparisons used generalised estimating equations, adjusted for binary logistic regression., Results: Of 143 patients, there were 410 of 468 (87.6%) perfectly patent grafts at the first angiogram, analysed at 6.8±4.0 years postoperative, of which 157 were internal mammary arteries, 228 were radial arteries, and 25 were saphenous veins. At the latest angiogram (12.2±3.8 years postoperative), comparison with the first angiogram for each individual graft found preserved perfect patency for internal mammary arteries, 156 of 157 (99.4%), and for radial arteries, 227 of 228 (99.6%) but saphenous veins deteriorated considerably, 13 of 25 (52.0%). The two arterial grafts (internal mammary and radial) were superior to vein grafts (odds ratio 163; 95% confidence interval [CI] 22-1,211; p<0.001), but not different from each other (odds ratio 0.95; 95% CI 0.78-1.16; p=0.584)., Conclusions: From a position of known angiographic perfect patency post-CABG, internal mammary artery and radial artery grafts retained their perfect patency in the longer term, but saphenous vein grafts did not., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To investigate the effects of a 12-week early moderate-intensity resistance training program compared to aerobic-based rehabilitation on postoperative cognitive recovery following cardiac surgery via median sternotomy., Methods: This was a multicentre, prospective, pragmatic, non-blinded, pilot randomised controlled trial (1:1 randomisation) of two parallel groups that compared a 12-week early moderate-intensity resistance training group to a control group, receiving aerobic-based rehabilitation. English-speaking adults (≥18 years) undergoing elective cardiac surgery via median sternotomy were randomised using sealed envelopes, with allocation revealed before surgery. The primary outcome was cognitive function, assessed using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), at baseline, 14 weeks and 6 months postoperatively., Results: The ADAS-cog score at 14 weeks was significantly better for the resistance training group (n=14, 7.2±1.4; 95% CI 4.3, 10.2, vs n=17, 9.2±1.3; 95% CI 6.6, 11.9, p=0.010). At 14 weeks postoperatively, 53% of the aerobic-based rehabilitation group (n=9/17) experienced cognitive decline by two points or more from baseline ADAS-cog score, compared to 0% of the resistance training group (n=0/14; p=0.001)., Conclusion: Early resistance training appears to be safe and may improve cognitive recovery compared to standard, aerobic-based rehabilitation following cardiac surgery via median sternotomy, however as this was a pilot study, the sample size was small and further research is needed to determine a causal relationship., (Copyright © 2021 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)