The Futility of Pretransplant Coronary Bypass Grafting in Asymptomatic Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the validity of recommending coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in preparation for renal transplantation in asymptomatic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with evidence of reversible myocardial ischemia. Design Retrospective review in a single PD unit. Participants Ten asymptomatic PD patients who underwent CABG to be placed on the transplant list comprised the study group. Ten age-, sex-, and diseasematched PD patients who did not receive CABG were used as a comparison group. Measurements Clinical outcome from 1990 to the present. Results Only 1 patient in the study group has received a transplant. Seven patients (70%) have died or have been removed from the list because of comorbid illness. Only 2 patients are still on the waiting list. Conclusion As a result of the long waiting time for cadaveric renal transplant and the high risk of interim development of comorbid disease, only a minority of patients come to transplantation. The presence of coronary disease is likely a surrogate for more generalized cardiac and vascular disease in this population. In light of these findings, the policy of prophylactic revascularization in asymptomatic dialysis patients in preparation for renal transplantation needs to be reconsidered.