Current State of Anticoagulants to Treat Deep Venous Thrombosis

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the preferred treatment in patients with complex coronary artery disease. However, whether the procedure should be performed with or without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, referred to as off-pump and on-pump CABG, is still up for debate. Intuitively, avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass seems beneficial as the systemic inflammatory response from extracorporeal circulation is omitted, but no single randomized trial has been able to prove off-pump CABG superior to on-pump CABG as regards the hard outcomes death, stroke or myocardial infarction. In contrast, off-pump CABG is technically more challenging and may be associated with increased risk of incomplete revascularization. The purpose of the review is to summarize the current literature comparing outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.     

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with left main disease

BACKGROUND: Multivessel off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been performed with favorable results in our institute. In this study, we analyzed the outcomes in patients who underwent off-pump CABG for left main disease, since the surgical outcomes for such patients have not been clarified. METHODS: Between March 1, 1999 and July 30, 2002, a total of 147 patients with left main disease (112 males and 35 females, mean age 66.9 +/- 9.8 years) underwent off-pump CABG. Perioperative and follow-up data were entered into a structured database and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: Urgent or emergent surgery was performed in 25 patients (17.0%), and a preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump was used in 12 patients (8.2%). The mean number of bypass grafts was 3.2 +/- 1.0, and complete revascularization was performed in 127 patients (86.4%). There were 4 incidences of intraoperative conversion from off-pump to on-pump surgery. The mean intubation period, intensive care unit stay and postoperative hospital stay were 9.4 +/- 13.0 h, 2.3 +/- 1.4 days and 13.4 +/- 7.3 days, respectively. There was 1 hospital death (0.7%). Postoperative myocardial infarction was observed in 2 patients (1.4%), postoperative stroke in 1 (0.7%), prolonged ventilator support in 5 (3.4%) and mediastinitis in 3 (2.0%). During the follow-up period of 2.1 +/- 1.0 years, there were 4 deaths and 7 cardiac events. The actuarial 3-year survival rate was 97.0%, and the event-free rate was 94.3%. CONCLUSION: Our observations support off-pump CABG as a surgical option with a favorable outcome for patients with left main disease.     

Myocardial injury in coronary artery bypass grafting: On-pump versus off-pump comparison by measuring heart-type fatty-acid-binding protein release

This prospective study uses heart-type fatty-acid-binding protein (hFABP) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) release to compare myocardial injury in on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Fifty patients were randomly assigned to on-pump or off-pump CABG. The hFABP and CK-MB concentrations were measured in serial venous blood samples drawn before heparinization in both groups and after aortic unclamping at 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours in the on-pump group. In the off-pump group, samples were taken after the last distal anastomosis at the same time intervals as in the on-pump group. The total amount of hFABP and CK-MB released was significantly higher in the on-pump than in the off-pump group (hFABP = 100.43 +/- 77.63 vs 3.94 +/- 0.36 ng/mL, P < 0.0001; CK-MB = 33.33 +/- 3.81 vs 28.65 +/- 3.91 log units, P < 0.001). In all patients, hFABP levels peaked as early as 1 hour after declamping (on-pump group) or 2 hours after the last distal anastomosis (off-pump group), whereas CK-MB peaked only at 4 hours after declamping (on-pump group) or 24 hours after the last distal anastomosis (off-pump group). The lower release of hFABP and CK-MB in the off-pump CABG group indicates that on-pump CABG with cardioplegic arrest causes more myocardial damage than does off-pump CABG. Heart-type fatty-acid-binding protein is a more rapid marker of perioperative myocardial damage, peaks earlier than CK-MB, and may predict the requirement for intensive monitoring for postoperative myocardial infarction.     

Coronary surgery without extracorporeal circulation: the short-term results in high-risk patients

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to assess the impact of coronary bypass surgery (CABG) without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on high-risk patients. METHODS: From February 1997 to July 1998, 71 patients considered at high-risk underwent a CABG off-pump. Using the "Higgins score", eleven preoperative risk factors were identified and stratified in this group of patients. Among 1271 patients who underwent CABG with CPB in the same period, using a computer-based matched comparison, a second identical group of patients was selected according to the 11 risk variables and the number with coronary disease, so that complete preoperative matching included the year of operation, score index and coronary target. Moreover, among seven other preoperative variables that were not included in the matching comparison, the two groups differed only in mean age (64 +/- 10.9 vs 61.6 +/- 7.3 in groups off and on-pump, respectively, p < 0.05). Postoperative outcome and complications and blood requirement were compared. Myocardial cell injury and left ventricular performance were also assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: The global incidence of neurologic complications in the off-pump group was significantly lower (9.8 vs 0%, in on and off-pump groups, respectively; p = 0.02). Patients undergoing CABG off-pump required blood far less often (% of transfused patients: 26.7% for the patients with CPB and 11.2% for the patients without CPB; p = 0.032). Three patients from the on-pump group (4.2%) had a perioperative myocardial infarction (AMI), versus 0% of the off-pump cases (p = ns). Postoperative atrial fibrillation accounted for 14.1% in off-pump patients and 30.9% in on-pump patients (p = 0.027). One patient in both groups (1.4%) suffered from postoperative heart failure. Mean ventilation time and ICU stay did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, hospital discharge occurred earlier in the off-pump group (9.3 +/- 3 vs 12.6 +/- 8, p = 0.007). In-hospital death occurred in one case from the on-pump group (1.4%) versus 0% of patients operated off-pump. CPK-MB release in patients without perioperative AMI was significantly lower in off-pump patients 6 and 12 hours after the operation (36.6 +/- 17 IU/l vs 69.8 +/- 23 IU/l after 6 hours, p < 0.05; and 36.7 +/- 19 IU/l vs 67.3 +/- 26 IU/l after 12 hours, p < 0.05, in off and on-pump groups, respectively) and LVSWI turned out to be better in off-pump patients 6 hours postoperatively (34.2 +/- 2 g*m/m2 vs 27.2 +/- 3 g*m/m2, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CABG without CPB seems to be a promising technique for high-risk patients. It offers better neurologic and cardiac protection, shortens postoperative hospital stay and reduces the need for blood transfusion.     

The Canadian off-pump coronary artery bypass graft registry: a one-year prospective comparison with on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: The authors sought to examine in-hospital and one-year outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to determine the subgroups of patients most likely to benefit from the off-pump procedure in a regular surgical practice. METHODS: From March 2001 to December 2002, 1657 consecutive patients were treated with off-pump CABG and 1693 consecutive patients were treated with on-pump CABG. Propensity score modelling was performed to control for treatment and selection bias. A propensity-matched analysis was performed to identify factors associated with survival benefit from the off-pump procedure. RESULTS: The mortality was similar postoperatively and at one year after surgery. The rate of stroke was decreased in the off-pump group postoperatively (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.06) and significantly at one year after surgery (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.90). A significant reduction in acute renal dialysis and a significant increase in myocardial infarction rates were seen in off-pump patients during the initial hospitalization but these differences disappeared during the follow-up period. The number of grafts completed was significantly lower in off-pump CABG than in on-pump CABG (2.62+/-1.00 versus 3.36+/-0.92, respectively; P<0.001). Hospital length of stay and the percentage of patients who required mechanical ventilation were significantly lower in the off-pump group than in the on-pump group. At one year after surgery, the adjusted rate of coronary angiogram and revascularization was similar between the two groups, and the adjusted rate of self-reported angina and memory status was significantly better in the off-pump CABG group. Almost all subgroups of patients had a neutral effect or a survival benefit with the off-pump technique. CONCLUSIONS: The results from a Canada-wide multicentre registry showed the safety and effectiveness of off-pump CABG in most subgroups of patients in a regular surgical practice.     

A propensity score analysis on the effect of on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with coronary artery disease

Aim

The aim of this retrospective observational study was to investigate the effect of on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD).

Methods

A retrospective observational study was performed using a propensity score analysis in 290 consecutive patients undergoing CABG between April 2009 and March 2014, of them, 54 patients undergoing off-pump CABG (OPCABG) were matched with 54 patients undergoing on-pump CABG (ONCABG) by propensity score. The perioperative complications and hospital mortality were documented.

Results

Preoperative characteristics were comparable in both groups following propensity matching. Postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) incidence was lower in OPCABG group than in ONCABG group (3.7% vs. 14.8%, P=0.046); both hospital mortality and the major complications rates were similar in the two groups after propensity adjustment for preoperative characteristics.

Conclusions

The perioperative complications are similar in both off-pump and on pump CABG groups, the short-term effect of OPCABG is similar to that of ONCABG.     

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting improves in-hospital mortality in patients with dialysis-dependent renal failure

ObjectivePatients with chronic dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease are increasingly referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and their early outcome is less favorable. Off-pump CABG (OPCAB) has achieved encouraging results in high-risk patients. Therefore, we designed this retrospective study to test the hypothesis that OPCAB reduced surgical risks in dialysis patients.MethodsFrom January 2000 to December 2005, 294 dialysis-dependent patients received isolated CABG at the Washington Hospital Center. Among them, 168 underwent OPCAB (off-pump group), and 126, CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (on-pump group). The in-hospital outcomes were analyzed.ResultsThe two groups were comparable in terms of preoperative characteristics. The Parsonnet's Bedside Score of the off-pump group was similar to that of the on-pump group (32.0 vs. 32.0, P=.57). The in-hospital mortality of the off-pump group was significantly lower than that of the on-pump group (5.4% vs. 11.9%, P=.04). Although the percentage of patients who received transfusions was similar, the on-pump group received more total transfusions. Logistic regression analysis revealed that use of CPB independently predicted in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR), 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.78–13.85; P<.01] and perioperative myocardial infarction (MI; OR, 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–22.40; P=.03). No significant difference in long-term survival at 4 years was absorbed between the two groups of hospital survivors.ConclusionsOur data suggest that OPCAB is a safe alternative to on-pump CABG in dialysis patients. Avoiding CPB resulted in less perioperative blood utilization, MI, and hospital mortality.     

冠心病患者冠状动脉旁路移植术不同术式的临床疗效比较

目的对比研究冠心病患者体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术和非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术的手术效果。方法106例择期行冠状动脉旁路移植术患者分为两组,体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术组59例,非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术组47例,对两组相关指标进行对比分析。结果两组在平均搭桥支数、平均动脉桥支数、死亡率以及术后并发症的发生率方面无明显差异(P>0.05);而非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术组术后呼吸机支持时间、ICU天数、平均住院天数以及胸腔引流量和输血量均低于体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术组(P<0.05)。结论非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术和体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术均是冠心病外科治疗有效的方法;与体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术相比,非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术在缩短呼吸机支持时间、减少胸腔引流量、输血量和平均住院天数等方面具有一定的优势。     

Mortality and Readmissions After On-Pump Versus Off-Pump Redo Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

IntroductionLarge institutional and administrative datasets that have compared on pump versus off pump first time coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, comparison of off-pump vs on-pump outcomes in patients undergoing redo CABG are limited in current literature.MethodsAll patients who underwent redo CABG for coronary artery disease from 2011 to 2017 at our institution were included in the study. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with 5-year mortality and readmission.ResultsThree hundred and fifty patients underwent redo CABG; of which, 309 underwent on-pump CABG and 41 underwent off-pump CABG. Blood product transfusion (31.7% vs 58.9%; p = 0.001) and new onset atrial fibrillation (17.1% vs 35.6%; p = 0.018) were higher in the on-pump cohort. There was no difference in 30-day (2.4% vs 8.1%; p = 0.209), 1-year (4.9% vs 16.5%; p = 0.074), or 5-year mortality (31.7% vs 35.6%; p = 0.213) for off vs on pump redo CABG. There was no difference in 30-day or 1- hospital readmissions between groups. Five-year all cause readmissions (76.9% vs 55.3%; p = 0.037) was significantly higher in the off-pump redo CABG group. On multivariable analysis, on vs. off pump CABG was not significantly associated with mortality or readmission at 5 years.ConclusionThere was no short or long-term survival advantage for on-pump vs off-pump CABG despite risk adjustment. Hospital readmissions at 5-years were higher in the off-pump group.     

80岁以上高龄患者行冠状动脉旁路移植术临床疗效分析

目的观察80岁以上患者行冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)的临床效果。方法选择2001年10月至2013年10月,在北京军区总医院心血管外科行CABG手术年龄80岁的高龄冠心病患者60例,其中男性53例,女性7例,平均年龄(82.65±2.27)岁。急诊手术5例。体外循环下搭桥(on-pump)6例,非体外循环下搭桥(off-pump)54例。记录患者冠状动脉搭桥数量,围手术期呼吸机辅助呼吸时间、住院时间、重要脏器并发症发生率以及近期心肌缺血事件发生率。结果纳入患者平均搭桥(3.13±0.24)支,术后呼吸机辅助呼吸(10.11±4.37)h,平均住院时间(11.36±4.51)d。围手术期死亡率为5%。并发症发生率依次为胸腔积液(48.3%)、低氧及高碳酸血症(30.0%)、心房颤动(26.7%)、肾功能不全(23.3%)、低心排综合征(5.0%)等。患者出院后随访3个月,均无心肌缺血事件发生。结论做好充分的术前准备、评估及围手术期管理,80岁以上高龄患者的CABG手术依然可以取得良好效果。     

Full-sternotomy off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass procedures: in-hospital outcomes and complications during one year in a single center

We prospectively compared, according to their preoperative clinical profiles, the in-hospital outcomes of patients operated on consecutively (but without randomization) for isolated coronary artery disease with on-pump or off-pump techniques. During 2001, 324 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting: 216 patients (mean age, 66.7 +/- 8.9 years; range, 41-85 years) underwent on-pump revascularization, and 108 patients (mean age, 676 +/- 10 years; range, 37-90 years) underwent full-sternotomy off-pump revascularization. The 2 groups were homogeneous with regard to female sex (22.6% vs 26.8%), previous cardiac operation (2.8% vs 4.6%), cardiogenic shock (1.3% vs 1.9%), diabetes (30% vs 33%), and chronic renal failure that required hemodialysis (3% vs 3.5%). Postoperative complications, including bleeding, myocardial infarction, acute renal failure, mediastinitis with sternal dehiscence, cerebrovascular events, and prolonged respiratory assistance were more frequent in on-pump patients (P = 0.004). The total number of grafts and the grafts per patient ratio were significantly higher in on-pump patients (P = 0.0001), whereas the total number of full arterial revascularizations was higher in off-pump patients (P = 0.0001). Off-pump patients showed a significantly shorter intensive care unit stay (P = 0.02), and less need for intra-aortic balloon pump insertion (P = 0.04). In-hospital mortality was 2.8% in on-pump patients and 2.7% in off-pump patients (P = NS). Although the hospital mortality rate was comparable for the 2 techniques, the in-hospital comparison between the 2 groups showed how the avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass can significantly reduce the cumulative postoperative incidence of complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.     

The relation between surgeon volume and outcome following off-pump vs on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has been recently reintroduced into clinical practice. In light of the relatively low level of experience of most cardiac surgeons with off-pump CABG surgery, and the exceptional technical challenge of working on a "beating heart," off-pump CABG surgery presents a unique opportunity to explore the effect of surgeon case volume on surgical outcome after controlling for the effects of patient case mix and hospital volume. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study analyzing the association between surgeon volume and in-hospital mortality rate for off-pump and on-pump CABG surgery using random-effects logistic regression modeling. SETTING AND PATIENTS: The analyses were based on the New York State clinical CABG surgery registry. The study sample consisted of 36,930 patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery between 1998 and 1999 that was performed by 181 surgeons at 33 hospitals. INTERVENTIONS: None. RESULTS: There is no association between the number of CABG procedures performed off-pump by an individual surgeon and in-hospital mortality rates (p = 0.93) after controlling for hospital CABG surgery volume and patient-level risk factors. There is also no association between the off-pump CABG surgery mortality rate and the total number of both off-pump and on-pump CABG surgery cases (p = 0.78). In the on-pump CABG surgery cohort, surgeons performing a high volume of CABG procedures had significantly lower risk-adjusted mortality rates among their patients compared to those performing a very low volume, a low-volume, and a medium volume of CABG procedures (p < 0.006). CONCLUSION: For off-pump CABG surgery, surgeons performing a high volume of procedures do not have better mortality outcomes than those performing a low volume of procedures. However, higher surgeon case volumes are associated with lower mortality rates for on-pump CABG surgery. The absence of a volume-outcome association for off-pump CABG surgery is especially surprising in light of the more technically demanding nature of off-pump CABG surgery compared to on-pump CABG surgery.     

80岁以上冠状动脉旁路移植术的临床观察

目的:总结80岁以上超高龄患者冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)的临床特点和结果。方法:对阜外心血管病医院2003年8月至2013年7月期间,112例行CABG的80岁以上患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。记录术前一般情况、冠状动脉病变、合并疾病、治疗情况、术中手术方式、术后恢复情况以及并发症和病死率。结果:术前3支病变或合并左主干病变的患者占72%,66%的患者合并高血压,52%高血脂,22%心律失常,31%糖尿病,19%呼吸功能不全,58%不稳定心绞痛,9.8%急性心肌梗死,23%陈旧性心肌梗死,22%脑卒中史。70例患者常温下行CABG术,42例体外循环下行CABG术,其中3例为CABG+室壁瘤切除术。平均旁路移植数量为(2.7±0.6)支。全组死亡3例,围术期心肌梗死2例,延迟苏醒5例,肺部感染8例,机械通气时间延长13例,新发生脑卒中2例,肾替代治疗4例,出血需二次手术6例。结论:80岁以上的超高龄冠心病患者,体外循环和非体外循环CABG均可提供安全有效的治疗效果,对于术前冠状动脉病变程度较重,术中需要再血管化搭桥数量较多、合并室壁瘤切除或其他心脏直视手术的患者,采用体外循环下手术。对于冠状动脉病变适合不停跳条件下就可以充分再血管化的患者,采用非体外循环CABG是适宜的手术方式。     

70岁以上高龄冠状动脉旁路移植患者的临床特征分析

目的探讨高龄因素对冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)治疗安全性的影响及围术期管理。方法收集2016年1月至2019年2月于首都医科大学宣武医院接受CABG治疗冠状动脉(冠脉)病变70岁以上高龄患者共71例,其中男性48例,女性23例,发病年龄为(70~83)岁,平均为(74.23±6.8)岁。按照手术方法的不同,分为停跳和不停跳两组,比较两组患者的术前、围手术期以及住院死亡的情况。结果高龄患者中,53例实施了停跳CABG治疗,18例实施了不停跳CABG治疗。高血压和糖尿病病史多见于停跳CABG治疗的患者,差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.01),其他合并症两组间均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。冠脉三支病变患者接受停跳CABG治疗比例高于不停跳CABG患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。在CABG中,使用左侧乳内动脉和完全血管重建多见于停跳CABG治疗中,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。胸腔积液多见于不停跳CABG治疗后的患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),其他术后并发症两组之间均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。总住院时间为(19.1±7.3)d,住院死亡率为5.6%,两组之间均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论术前全面详尽检查,术中严密监测生命体征、维持血流动力学稳定,及早发现并处理并发症,对于高龄患者行CABG具有重要意义。     

非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术治疗冠心病的疗效

目的 观察非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）治疗冠心病的疗效。方法 170例冠心病患者随机分为体外循环下CABG组（On-pump组，n=85例）和非体外循环不停跳CABG组（Off-pump组，n=85例）。观察两组患者氧合指数（OI）、肺泡-动脉氧差（AaDO2）、呼吸机辅助时间、正性肌力药物使用量及时间、术后24 h出血量、输血量及心肌酶值。结果 Off-pump组在出血量、输血量、辅助呼吸时间、呼吸指标均明显优于On-pump组，正性肌力药物使用时间及心肌酶值显著少于On-pump组（P<0.05，P<0.01）。结论 采用非体外循环进行CABG治疗冠心病优于体外循环。     

Coronary revascularization: off-pump versus on-pump--a comparison of behavior of biochemical cardiac ischemia markers

BACKGROUND: Recently, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the beating heart with avoidance of extracorporeal circulation (off-pump CABG technique) has been gaining increasing importance in modern cardiac surgery. The object of this prospective study was to compare postoperative kinetic and patterns of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), T (cTnT), and creatine kinase MB (CKMB) activities after off-pump CABG versus conventional on-pump CABG. METHODS: We studied 106 patients who underwent first-time elective on-pump (group I, n = 69, 56 male, 13 female, mean age: 64.3 +/- 9.9 years, mean ejection fraction: 56 +/- 15%) or off-pump (group II, n = 37, 24 male, 13 female, mean age: 68.4 +/- 9.1 years, mean ejection fraction: 57 +/- 13%) CABG surgery via median sternotomy. CTn I and cTnT levels, total creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB activities in the serum were measured before operation, up on arrival at the ICU and 6, 12, 24, 48 and 120 hours later. Serial 12-lead ECGs were recorded preoperatively and on days 1, 2 and 5. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of cardiac troponins in all patients were preoperatively either not detectable or in the normal range and significantly increased after surgery. In group I, one patient developed a Q wave myocardial infarction, one patient a non-Q wave infarction and two patients a new left bundle branch block on the ECG. One patient of group II developed a new Q-wave myocardial infarction and another patient permanent atrial fibrillation associated with a continuous arrhythmia. All patients with a myocardial infarction in the ECG showed significant elevation of concentrations or activities of these biochemical markers. The median postoperative peak values for cTnI were measured at 24 h in both groups (2.7 micrograms/l, 95%-CI: [2.2, 3.2] in group I and 1.1 micrograms/l, 95%-CI: [0.5, 1.3] in group II). CTnT postoperatively presented an earlier median peak of 0.128 microgram/l at 12 h in group II (95%-CI: [0.041, 0.146]) than in group I at 48 h (0.298 microgram/l, 95%-CI: [0.254, 0.335]). CONCLUSIONS: All patients undergoing CABG surgery with or without extracorporeal circulation postoperatively showed an increase of cardiac troponin levels. After uncomplicated coronary revascularization, patients with the off-pump CABG technique continuously presented lower serum cardiac troponin concentrations than those with the on-pump CABG technique. CTnI showed the same patterns of release in both groups with different median postoperative peak values at 24 h. The patterns off cTnT release following CABC surgery with or without extracorporal circulation were different: CTnT reaches its postoperative peak value in patients with the off-pump CABG technique earlier than those with the on-pump CABG technique (12 h postoperatively versus 48 h).     

Comparison of left ventricular diastolic function after on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

We evaluated diastolic function in patients who underwent elective revascularization by standard on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery versus off-pump CABG. Diastolic function improved in both groups, but indexes of early diastolic filling and myocardial relaxation improved more in patients who underwent on-pump than off-pump CABG.     

Early mortality from off-pump and on-pump coronary bypass surgery in Canada: a comparison of the STS and the EuroSCORE risk prediction algorithms

OBJECTIVE: Early mortality from off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was assessed and compared with two widely used risk algorithms for CABG: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE). METHOD: From March 12, 2001, to December 31, 2002, 1657 consecutive patients were treated with off-pump CABG and 1693 consecutive patients were treated with on-pump CABG. The predicted risk of mortality scores for the STS and EuroSCORE models were calculated. The predictive accuracy for early mortality was assessed by comparing the observed and expected mortalities for equal-sized quantiles of risk using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. The discriminatory power of the models was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The observed postoperative mortality was 1.8% (95% CI 1.3% to 2.4%) for off-pump CABG and 1.5% (95% CI 1.1% to 2.1%) for on-pump CABG. For both on-pump and off-pump CABG surgery, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test indicated good accuracy. The area under the ROC curve was 0.81 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.90) for the STS and 0.79 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.88) for EuroSCORE in off-pump CABG (P=0.567). The area under the ROC curve was 0.82 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.91) for STS and 0.81 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.90) for EuroSCORE in on-pump CABG (P=0.616). The STS-predicted risk of stroke, prolonged ventilation and renal failure were similar to the observed data, with relatively good discriminatory powers for both off-pump and on-pump CABG. CONCLUSION: Both the STS and EuroSCORE risk algorithms are good predictors of early mortality from off-pump or on-pump CABG surgery. However, the generalizability of these results in the Canadian context would require a broader sampling of Canadian centres, including ones that provide both on-pump and off-pump CABG.     

Early results of coronary artery bypass graft surgery in women

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of death among women in developed countries all over the world. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a well established therapeutic modality to treat diffuse coronary artery atherosclerosis. AIM: In this study we focused on the retrospective assessment of the early results of CABG in women as compared to the results of such treatment in men. METHODS: This analysis involved 2881 patients (677 women and 2204 men) who underwent CABG between 2003 and 2005. An operative technique (conventional on-pump or off-pump) was applied in a similar proportion of patients in both groups (on-pump: 59.4% of women and 59.6% of men; NS). Women were older than men and had higher body mass index. Concomitant disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia were noted more frequently in female patients. RESULTS: In the perioperative period, left ventricular failure requiring intra-aortic balloon pump insertion and administration of high doses of catecholamines was observed significantly more often in women than in men (22.1 vs. 16.1%, respectively; p <0.001). Perioperative myocardial infarction was diagnosed more frequently in women (5.5 vs. 2.9%; p <0.001). In female patients, the rate of repeat operation was higher (8.9 versus 5.1%; p <0.001) and more subjects required blood transfusions (45.5 vs. 27.5%; p <0.001). Female gender featured a higher rate of postoperative acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (8.5 vs. 0.95%; p <0.001). Mechanical ventilation was longer, and women stayed longer in the postoperative intensive care unit as well as in hospital. Early postoperative mortality among women was 3.6%, i.e. significantly higher than in male patients (1.6%) (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis performed herein suggests that mortality and morbidity after CABG is higher in women than in men.     

Outcomes in single versus bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in coronary artery bypass surgery

The authors analyzed the early outcomes in two groups of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with single versus bilateral internal thoracic arteries (ITA) in their institution. One thousand sixty-nine patients underwent CABG with single or bilateral ITAs from 1990 to 2000. Of these patients, 911 (85.2%) had single ITA and 158 had bilateral ITA (14.8%). The incidence of tobacco abuse was 40.3% in the single ITA group and 56.7% in the double ITA group (P = 0.0001). The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction, renal failure, reoperation for bleeding, stroke, or operative mortality did not differ in the two groups. There was a 4.4% incidence of mediastinitis in the bilateral ITA group versus 2.2% in the single ITA group (P = 0.0602). Early outcomes after bilateral ITA grafting for CABG are similar to single ITA grafting. Careful judgment should be exercised in selecting patients for bilateral ITA grafting, particularly if the patient smokes.