To examine trends in preoperative clinical characteristics, risk profiles and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in Victoria.

A prospective analysis of 9372 patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2006 in six Victorian public hospitals, using the Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons database.

Trends in patient baseline characteristics and risk factors, postoperative morbidity and 30-day mortality rate.

Over the 5 years, the mean age of patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery increased, from 65.4 years in 2001–02 to 66.0 years in 2005–06 (P < 0.001). There was also an increase in the proportion of patients with hypertension (70.2% to 75.8%; P < 0.001), respiratory disease (83.2% to 89.5%; P < 0.001) and left main coronary artery disease (22.1% to 26.1%; P = 0.03), while the number of patients undergoing repeat CABG surgery decreased (4.4% to 2.6%; P = 0.002). The overall 30-day mortality rate remained unchanged (2.2% to 1.8%; P = 0.983). Rates of other major postoperative complications showed no significant change over the study period.

Rates of 30-day mortality and postoperative morbidity after CABG surgery have remained steady, despite the surgical population being older. Short-term outcomes after CABG surgery in Victoria remain among the most favourable reported in any population undergoing this surgery.