Safety and efficiency of trainees performing bilateral internal thoracic artery coronary bypass grafting using the T-graft technique.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess safety and efficiency of multiarterial coronary bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic arteries in T-graft technique performed by trainees.

Methods: Patients from January 2005 to February 2023 who had undergone multiarterial coronary bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic arteries in T-graft technique were analysed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the primary surgeon: consultant and trainees. The primary composite outcome measure was all-cause mortality and coronary reintervention after 5 years. Safety and efficiency were assessed using cumulative sum analysis.

Results: A total of 1764 patients were identified, 1114 patients (63.2%) were operated on by consultants, 650 patients (37.8%) by trainees. Mortality rates did not differ (0.8% vs 1.0%, P = 0.4). Consultants performed more distal anastomoses [3.38 (0.96) vs 3.06 (0.76); P < 0.001] and achieved more complete revascularization [n = 895 (92%)] than trainees [n = 460 (80%); P < 0.001]. In the cumulative sum analysis, safety of teaching procedures remains within the acceptable range. There was no increase in the expectation/frequency of the composite outcome measure; instead, the expected frequency decreases up to 150 operations. Duration of the operation averages decrease until the 125th operation. Performed distal anastomoses increased with the rising number of operations.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that training operations multiarterial coronary bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic arteries in T-graft technique are equally safe regardless of whether they are performed by consultants or trainees. Each trainee experiences an individual learning curve that falls within acceptable error rates and, therefore, the procedure can be safely learned directly.