Coronary endarterectomy with off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to review our experience in coronary artery endarterectomy performed without cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Between May 1998 and June 2000 off-pump coronary endarterectomy was performed on 11 patients who had unstable angina pectoris. The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 26.3 +/- 4.4, and all of the patients were New York Heart Association (NYHA) III or IV. Off-pump open left anterior descending (LAD) endarterectomy was performed on 7 patients, and closed endarterectomy of the right coronary artery (RCA) was done on the remaining 4. RESULTS: There were no deaths. None of the procedures was converted to on-pump operation; all the endarterectomies and bypasses were performed on the beating heart. All patients were completely revascularized, the left internal mammary artery was bypassed to the LAD in all operations, and all other grafts were of saphenous vein. At the end of the first year all bypasses to the endarterectomized arteries were patent. The overall patency rate was 95.6%. The mean postoperative EF was 34.7 +/- 9.1, which was significantly higher than the preoperative one (p < 0.05). At the end of the first year 9 patients were NYHA I or II and all were angina free in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class 0 or I. CONCLUSIONS: Endarterectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass can be performed in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction who are expected to benefit from the complete revascularization.     

Outcomes experience with off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in women

BACKGROUND: It has been well documented that women have higher morbidity and mortality rates than men following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In view of this evidence, we investigated the following question: compared with on-pump CABG surgery, is there benefit to off-pump CABG surgery in women? METHODS: Our investigation analyzes patient mortality and 13 procedure complications controlling for 35 variables representing patient characteristics and comorbid conditions, and for procedure characteristics for a population of 16,871 consecutive women undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG surgery at 78 hospitals for the period January 1998 to June 2001. RESULTS: Mean comparisons reveal that the mortality rate for women undergoing off-pump CABG surgery is nearly a percentage point lower than for women undergoing on-pump surgery (3.12 vs 3.90; p = 0.052). The complication rates for all complications analyzed (shock/hemorrhage, neurologic, cardiac, respiratory, renal, acute renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, implant infection, postoperative infection, septicemia, pneumonia, and peripheral vascular) were lower for women off-pump than women on-pump with the exception of mechanical complications. Logistic regression results reveal, after controlling for 35 relevant patient characteristics, comorbid conditions and procedure characteristics, that women undergoing on-pump CABG surgery experience a 42% higher mortality rate (p = 0.0239) than women undergoing off-pump CABG surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that off-pump CABG surgery may be better for women than on-pump CABG surgery because it appears to reduce mortality and respiratory complications, shorten lengths-of-stay, and increases discharges directly home. None of the 12 other complications investigated demonstrated an advantage for women undergoing on-pump surgery relative to those receiving off-pump surgery.     

Combined off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and pulmonary resection

Background

Combined cardiac surgery and pulmonary resection using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been described previously. There are a few reports of combined procedures done without using CPB. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) eliminates organ dysfunction and suppression of immune system related to extracorporeal circulation.

Methods

Six patients underwent combined OPCABG and lung resection during a 4-year period. Follow-up ranging from 9 months to 3 years is available for these patients.

Results

Malignant pathology was the diagnosis in 5 patients and 1 patient was diagnosed with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Right upper lobectomy was performed in 3 patients, left upper lobectomy was performed in 1 patient, right upper and middle bilobectomy was performed in 1 patient, and bilateral lung volume reduction was performed in one patient. Prolonged air leak occurred in 1 patient postoperatively and another patient experienced small right-sided residual pleural space that was resolved at 6 weeks follow-up. There were no operative deaths but there were 2 late deaths. Evidence of recurrence for angina or malignancy upon follow-up was not detected.

Conclusions

A combined procedure is a safe approach in patients diagnosed with concomitant coronary artery and pulmonary disease. Avoidance of CPB may decrease the incidence of postoperative complications.     

Symmetry主动脉吻合器在心脏不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术中的应用

目的　总结非体外循环心脏不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术 (Off-pumpcoronaryarterybypassgrafting ,OPCAB)中使用Symmetry主动脉吻合器的近期效果。　方法　 2 0 0 2年 9月～ 2 0 0 3年 6月 ,2 0 4例冠心病行OPCAB ,其中 16 7例使用大隐静脉移植物 ,应用Symmetry主动脉吻合器 10 0例。　结果　使用吻合器 14 2个 ,吻合失败弃用 2个 ,3个吻合口漏血需手工修补 ,成功率 96 5 % (137 14 2 ) ,近端吻合口 (1 4± 0 5 )个 例 ,远端吻合口 (3 5± 0 8)个 例。近端吻合口血流量 (46 5± 2 2 3)ml min。吻合器安装时间 (4 0± 1 1)min ,吻合口完成时间均在 10s以内 ,手术时间 (3 2± 0 4 )h。手术死亡率 1% (1 10 0 ) ,无围手术期心肌梗塞、脑卒中等并发症 ,出血二次开胸 1例 ,但非吻合口出血。术后引流量 (5 4 1± 2 74 )ml,输血率 36 0 % (36 10 0 )。术后住院 (7 8± 1 6 )天。　结论　Symmetry主动脉吻合器可安全有效地应用于CABG术 ,近期临床效果满意 ,可缩短吻合时间和手术时间 ,避免主动脉钳夹 ,降低卒中并发症     

Initial experience with sutureless proximal anastomoses performed with a mechanical connector leading to clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: We report our early experience with the Symmetry Aortic Connector (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN) used for sutureless proximal aortosaphenous vein graft anastomoses without any cross clamp during coronary bypass procedures. METHODS: Between November 2001 and August 2002, 206 saphenous vein to aorta proximal anastomoses were created in 132 patients using the Symmetry device. All procedures were performed as part of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery without any aortic clamping. Intraoperative variables and postoperative data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All 206 anastomoses (100%) were successfully completed with the connector. Severe atherosclerotic disease of the aorta was documented in 16 patients (12%). Four anastomoses (2%) required additional suture placement. Predeployment problems occurred with 3 grafts (2.5%) during loading of the connector. Average number of distal bypasses was 3.2 per patient. One patient (0.7%) required reoperation for bleeding from a proximal anastomosis. Six patients (4.5%) had perioperative myocardial infarction documented by electrocardiographic changes. Thirty-day operative mortality was 3% (4 patients). Intraoperative transit time flow measurement was performed in all cases (100%). Postoperative angiography in 43 patients at a median 3 months postoperatively revealed occlusion of 9 of the 81 saphenous vein grafts (11%). CONCLUSIONS: The initial experience with a proximal saphenous vein graft to aorta anastomosis using the Symmetry connector demonstrates safety and ease of use. There is however some concern with early graft closure. A prospective randomized study is needed to clarify these concerns.     

Graft-to-coronary-artery shunt during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

We have developed a simple technique for temporary shunt from the saphenous vein graft to the coronary artery during off-pump coronary anastomosis. The ends of a 2-mm diameter tube were inserted into the distal end of the saphenous vein graft in which proximal anastomosis had been established and into the right coronary artery crux. Blood flow sufficient to maintain adequate hemodynamics was obtained through the shunt tube while suturing around the tube. We successfully employed this technique in 5 patients with acute coronary syndrome. We suggest that this technique may represent an addition to the armamentarium for off-pump anastomosis to the right coronary artery.     

Successful off-pump coronary artery bypass for Behcet's disease

A 66-year-old woman with a 30-year history of Behcet's disease was referred for coronary surgery because of restenosed stent and crescendo angina. We succeeded in operating on her by off-pump coronary bypass with bilateral internal mammary arteries, which were anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery and diagonal artery. The grafts were patent postoperatively and she became free from angina. Coronary surgery for Behcet's disease is extremely rare and this experience prompted us to report this case.     

Controversies in the use of intraluminal shunts during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery

Technical advances have made the performance of multivessel off-pump coronary artery bypass feasible. Snaring and intraluminal shunts are the techniques used for vascular control. Snaring provides a bloodless surgical field, is usually well tolerated by the patient, and is supported by years of clinical experience. Intraluminal shunts aim to achieve hemostasis at the arteriotomy site and to allow antegrade flow to provide myocardial protection. There are unresolved issues regarding whether shunts have a clinical benefit, do provide adequate flow to provide myocardial protection, and whether they cause significant endothelial damage. In this article, we have reviewed the literature to lend perspective to these issues.     

A simple technique of introducing intracoronary shunts for off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

We describe a simple technique of introducing intracoronary shunts for off-pump coronary artery bypass. This technique, with an aid of micro-bulldog clamp, provides both a test clamp with ischemic preconditioning effect, and a quick and easy introduction of intracoronary shunt, giving a clear visualization of coronary anastomosis site and distal coronary artery perfusion. We recommend this technique as another effective modality in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.     

Our experiences for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting to the circumflex system

BACKGROUND: Complete revascularization has been difficult in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Hemodynamic deterioration often prevents access to the circumflex territory. This study presents instrumentation for accessing the circumflex territory, and our clinical experience. METHODS: From August 1999 through December 2002, 140 patients underwent OPCAB via sternotomy in our institution. The 114 requiring reconstruction of the circumflex artery are the subjects of this study. There were no exclusion criteria. A series of techniques and instruments were developed to provide access to the circumflex area while hemodynamic stability was preserved, including the left pericardial traction technique, compression of the right pericardium, a right sternal retractor, and a type of shunt tube. RESULTS: Patients received an average of 3.2 grafts (range, 2 to 6). Complete revascularization was achieved in 95% of the cases. Complications included respiratory insufficiency (0.8%), renal dysfunction (7%), and sternal wound infection (0.8%). Blood transfusions were required in 10 patients (8%). No patient suffered perioperative myocardial infarction or stroke. No operation was converted to cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no operative death. Predischarge angiography demonstrated a 99% patency rate. CONCLUSIONS: With our techniques and instruments, off-pump coronary revascularizaion of the circumflex area may be performed safely to achieve complete revascularization. Early clinical results are excellent, but long-term longitudinal follow-up is required to assess the future effectiveness of OPCAB procedure with our techniques.