Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting remains the standard of care for advanced and multifocal coronary artery disease; however, for patients that are surgical candidates, total arterial revascularization (TAR) remains underutilized due to concerns such as sternal wound infections and the learning curve. We present the results of a large cohort of mid-career surgeons transitioning to TAR, focusing on short-term outcomes and the learning curve. Methods: The surgeons transitioned to using TAR as the preferred revascularization technique in August of 2017. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database was reviewed to identify all patients who underwent isolated non-emergent CABG performed by a single surgeon from January 2014 through January 2022. Patients were divided into two groups—those who had TAR and those who had traditional CABG using one internal mammary artery and vein grafts (IMA-SVG). Results: Eight hundred ninety-eight patients meet inclusion criteria (458 IMA-SVG and 440 TAR). The TAR group had slightly longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross clamp times, and operative times (all p < 0.05); however, ICU stay was shorter and 30-day readmission rate was lower for TAR compared to IMA-SVG (all p < 0.05). The TAR group also required fewer postoperative transfusions (p = 0.005). There was no difference in prolonged intubation, stroke, length of stay, mortality, or sternal wound complications between groups (all p > 0.05). The average TAR was 30 min longer; however, learning curves, stratified by number of grafts placed, showed no significant learning curve associated with TAR. Conclusions: An experienced surgeon transitioning from IMA-SVG to TAR slightly increases operative time, but decreases ICU stay, readmissions, and postoperative transfusions with no significant difference in rates of immediate post-operative complications or 30-day mortality, with a minimal learning curve.
