The role of non-invasive Arterial Stiffness diagnostics in perioperative risk stratification for CABG

Background: Arterial Stiffness (AS) is a novel marker shown to be an independent predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, AS has been minimally studied for its predictive value in CAD outcomes post-management. This review summarizes the current knowledge of AS and its potential role as a risk stratifying marker in coronary bypass graft (CABG) patients. Methods: A scoping review was performed to discover the existing primary research on AS and its role as a predictive marker of outcomes in CAD. MeSH terms were formulated for the database search. A pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria were created for appropriate article retrieval. A qualitative analysis and syntheses of these articles was conducted. Results: The search returned a total of 11 articles from 2005 to 2020 discussing the prognostic implications of AS in CAD management. A majority of the articles found prognostic value of AS in medically-managed and percutaneous-revascularized patients. Only 3 studies examined outcomes of CABG in-relation to pre-operative AS, which were extremely limited in scope, though did show prognostic correlation of post-op acute kidney injury. Conclusions: Despite the strong relationship of AS and CAD, few studies have looked at its prognostic value in patients undergoing surgical revascularization. Given the expanding evidence for AS as a marker of CAD and the progression of point-of-care technology to assess AS, this state-of-the-art measure could be a valuable risk stratifying tool for surgeons considering CABG for their patients, though further original research is needed.