This meta-analysis aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing combined coronary endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting (CE + CABG) versus isolated CABG, and particularly to examine subgroup patients with high-risk profile and patients with diffuse disease in the left anterior descending artery (LAD).Studies published between January 1, 1970 and May 31, 2015 were searched in the literature databases, including Ovid Medline, Embase, PubMed, and ISI Web of Science.A total of 30 eligible studies including 63,730 patients were analyzed.Five authors extracted data from the included studies independently.Meta-analysis on the total patients revealed that CE + CABG was associated with significantly increased 30-day postoperative all-cause mortality compared with isolated CABG (OR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.66-2.08, z=10.99, P<0.0001). Subgroup analysis on patients with high-risk profile and patients with diffuse disease in the LAD showed that 30-day mortality after CE + CABG was 2.6 folds (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.39-4.86, z=2.99, P=0.003) and 3.93 folds (OR=3.93, 95% CI: 1.40-11.0, z=2.60, P=0.009) of that after isolated CABG in the respective subgroup. In contrast, the mortality was comparable in CE + off-pump CABG and CE + on-pump CABG groups (OR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.18-1.55, z=1.16, P=0.248). In addition, the incidences of perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) and 30-day postoperative complications, including low output syndrome (LOS), MI, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and renal dysfunction after CE + CABG were significantly higher than those after isolated CABG (all P<0.05). In high-risk patient subgroup, CE + CABG significantly increased the incidences of postoperative LOS, MI, and renal function compared with isolated CABG (all P<0.05). The incidence of perioperative myocardial after CE + CABG was 2.86 and 2.92 times of that after isolated CABG in high-risk patients and patients with diffuse disease in LAD, respectively. Analysis on the recent reports (published later than 2000) showed consistent results as the analysis including all the eligible reports. Long-term survival was comparable in CE + CABG and isolated CABG groups (hazardous ratio=1.16, 95% CI: 0.32-4.22, z=0.23, P=0.819).CE + CABG appears to be associated with poor short-term outcomes, particularly in high-risk patients and patients with diffuse disease in the LAD.