Results with the Heartstring anastomotic device in patients with diseased ascending aorta

BACKGROUND: Avoidance of manipulation of diseased ascending aorta has been shown to be associated with a reduced risk of postoperative stroke after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). The use of the Heartstring device (Guidant, Indianapolis, USA) to accomplish a proximal aortic anastomosis without aortic clamping has been suggested in such patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From April 2004 to December 2005, proximal aortic anastomoses have been accomplished employing the Heartstring device in 19 patients with calcified ascending aorta who underwent OPCAB. The diagnosis of diseased ascending aorta was made intraoperatively by epiaortic ultrasound scanning. RESULTS: Eighteen vein grafts and three radial artery grafts have been successfully anastomosed to the ascending aorta by employing the Heartstring device. Breaking of eight seals occurred during insertion. One patient (5.2%) had stroke two days after urgent OPCAB. CONCLUSION: The use of the Heartstring anastomotic device should be considered in high-risk patients with diseased ascending aorta requiring a prompt myocardial revascularization, whenever there is a place to safely insert this device into the ascending aorta.     

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery for critical left main stem disease: safety, efficacy and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether patients with critical left main stem (LMS) coronary artery disease can undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery safely and successfully. METHODS: From May 1996 to March 2000 data for patients with critical (> or =50%) LMS stenosis who underwent conventional coronary artery bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CCAB) or without (OPCAB) were collected prospectively using the Patient Analysis & Tracking System. A reusable pressure stabilizer, intra-coronary shunts and a single posterior pericardial stitch exposure technique were used in all OPCAB cases. Non-randomized, retrospective data analysis included demographic and preoperative risk factors, operative details, clinical outcome and early follow-up. RESULTS: During the study period 387 patients with LMS stenosis underwent surgery (OPCAB n=75, CCAB n=312). Groups were similar in terms of preoperative and intraoperative variables although CCAB patients received significantly more grafts per patient (3.1+/-0.73 vs. 2.6+/-0.76, P< or =0.001). Mortality was similar in both groups (OPCAB 1.3% vs. CCAB 2.6%). OPCAB patients when compared to CCAB patients had a lower requirement for postoperative inotropes (12.0% vs. 38.1%, P=0.0001), temporary postoperative pacing (2.7% vs. 10.1%, P=0.02), and blood product transfusion (6.7% vs. 31.4%, P<0.0001), a lower incidence of postoperative chest infection (0% vs. 6.7%, P=0.02) and a slightly reduced postoperative length of stay (7.9+/-5.46 vs. 8.3+/-5.11 days, P=0.01). At 24 months follow-up, CCAB and OPCAB actuarial survival was 94.1+/-1.7% and 97.7+/-2.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: OPCAB surgery is safe and effective in patients with critical LMS disease.     

Early and medium-term results after on-pump and off-pump coronary artery surgery: a propensity score analysis

BACKGROUND: Comparative publications on beating-heart off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) surgery versus conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCAB) surgery frequently do not offer conclusive information because of investigator bias. METHODS: Trying to eliminate this problem, a propensity score analysis of the data of all CCAB patients (n = 517) and OPCAB patients (n = 133) operated on by the same surgeons during the same time period (1998 to 2001) was applied. After matching patients with similar propensity score values, 97 CCAB patients and 72 OPCAB patients entered the final analysis. RESULTS: Early results were similar in both groups: the 30-day mortality reached 1.4% in the CCAB group and 2.8% in the OPCAB group; strokes did not happen. Perioperative myocardial infarctions occurred in 4.1% of the CCAB patients and 4.3% of the OPCAB patients. Drainage blood loss in the first 24 hours after surgery (830 +/- 687 mL, CCAB group; and 909 +/- 678 mL, OPCAB group) was similar (p = 0.06) in both groups. Medium term results (freedom from percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or reoperation, freedom from myocardial infarction, freedom from stroke, and the quality of life) also were not significantly different between the off-pump and on-pump groups after a mean follow-up of 27 +/- 11 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that elective-surgery patients with coronary artery disease can be operated on either on-pump or off-pump with the same early and late mortality and morbidity.     

In-hospital outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass procedures: a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: Concern about the possible adverse effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) pump and advances in retractors and operative techniques to access all coronary segments have resulted in increased interest in off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) procedures. Four of the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group centers initiated OPCAB programs in 1998. We compared the preoperative risk profiles and in-hospital outcomes of patients done off-pump with those done by conventional coronary artery bypass (CCAB) with CPB. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2000, 1,741 OPCAB and 6,126 CCAB procedures were performed at these four medical centers. Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting procedures were excluded. Data were available for patient and disease risk factors, extent of coronary disease and adverse in-hospital outcomes. RESULTS: The OPCAB and CCAB groups were somewhat different in their preoperative patient and disease characteristics. The OPCAB patients were more likely to be female and to have peripheral vascular disease. The CCAB patients were more likely to have an ejection fraction less than 0.40 and be urgent or emergent at operation. However, overall predicted risk of in-hospital mortality, based on preoperative factors, was similar in the OPCAB and CCAB groups; the mean predicted risk was 2.6% (p = 0.567). Crude rates of mortality (2.54% OPCAB versus 2.57%, CCAB), intraoperative or postoperative stroke (1.33% versus 1.82%), mediastinitis (1.10% versus 1.37%), and return to the operating room for bleeding (3.46% versus 2.93%) did not differ significantly. The OPCAB patients did have a statistically significant reduction in the need for intraoperative or postoperative intraaortic balloon pump support (2.31% versus 3.41%; p = 0.023) and in the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (21.21% versus 26.31%; p < 0.001). Adjustment for preoperative risk factors and extent of coronary disease did not substantially change the crude results. Median postoperative length of stay was significantly shorter (5 days versus 6 days, p < 0.001) for OPCAB patients than for CCAB patients. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter study showed that patients having OPCAB are not exposed to a greater risk of short-term adverse outcomes. These data also provided evidence that patients having OPCAB have significantly lower need for intraoperative or postoperative intraaortic balloon pump, lower rates of postoperative atrial fibrillation, and a shorter length of stay.     

Surgical revascularization in patients with poor left ventricular function: on- or off-pump?

BACKGROUND: Patients with left ventricular dysfunction and low ejection fraction (EF) are at high-risk of complication and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The potential success of off-pump CABG in this high-risk population has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcome of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and conventional coronary artery bypass (CCAB) in patients with poor left ventricular function, all from a single institution. METHODS: Data on patient demographics, preoperative risk factors, operative and postoperative outcomes were collected retrospectively on all patients having undergone isolated CABG between January 1, 1998, and October 31, 2001. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients (31 OPCAB/46 CCAB) were identified as having an ejection fraction (EF) of < or = 0.35. Of these, 52 had EF < or = 0.30 (21 OPCAB/31 CCAB) and 31 patients had EF < or = 0.25 (10 OPCAB/21 CCAB). Operative mortality was 3.2% after the OPCAB procedure versus 10.9% for the CCAB (p = 0.39). Use of intraaortic balloon pump (6.5%) was rarely required. The OPCAB procedure resulted in significantly less requirement for blood transfusions (p < 0.05), fewer distal anastomoses per patient (p < 0.01), and a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (p < 0.05) compared with CCAB. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with poor left ventricular function may undergo surgical revascularization using off-pump technique with relatively good results and low mortality levels. The lower number of grafts performed on the off-pump procedure did not seem to affect clinical outcomes.     

Symmetry aortic connector devices and acute renal injury: a comparison of renal dysfunction after three different aortocoronary bypass surgery techniques

Although the pathogenesis of acute renal injury after cardiac surgery is multifactorial, atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta and embolic burden are strong independent predictors. Use of the Symmetry aortic connector device (ACD) for proximal anastomosis of coronary grafts may reduce ascending aortic atheroembolism. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery performed using an ACD is associated with less postoperative renal dysfunction compared with conventional OPCAB or on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Three-thousand-three-hundred consecutive patients undergoing non-emergent aortocoronary bypass surgery were retrospectively divided into three groups by surgical procedure; Group A: OPCAB with ACD (n = 124), Group B: standard OPCAB (n = 313), Group C: on-pump CABG (n = 2863). Postoperative peak fractional change in creatinine compared with baseline was used as a measure of renal outcome. Multivariable analysis did not identify ACD use as an independent predictor of postoperative peak fractional change in creatinine (P = 0.71), although the relationships of several known renal risk factors with postoperative peak fractional change in creatinine were confirmed. We could not find evidence that OPCAB surgery using ACDs reduces acute renal injury compared with standard OPCAB or CABG surgery.     

Early results of off-pump coronary artery bypass

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the operative results of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and on-pump (conventional) coronary artery bypass (CCAB), to clarify qualitative problems and whether OPCAB is less invasive or not. Methods: OPCAB was consecutively performed in 63 patients and CCAB in 63 patients between July 1998 and December 2003. Results: The mean number of bypass grafts was 2.43 ±0.82 in the OPCAB group and 2.70±0.71 in the CCAB group (p=0.096). In-hospital mortality was 0% in the OPCAB group and 3.2% in the CCAB group. The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 0% in the OPCAB group and 3.2% in the CCAB group. The incidence of postoperative major complications was significantly lower in the OPCAB group than in the CCAB group (OPCAB group=4 complications, CCAB group=13 complications). Cerebrovascular accidents occurred in 1.6% of patients in both groups. The incidence of sternal infection or mediastinitis was 0% in the OPCAB group and 3.2% in the CCAB group. The early patency rate of graft was 94.0% in the OPCAB group and 92.8% in the CCAB group, and was not significantly different (p=0.822). Conclusion: Operative mortality and major complications after surgery in OPCAB were lower than that in CCAB. The early patency rate in OPCAB was as good as that in CCAB. It is considered that OPCAB is less invasive and the quality of bypass in OPCAB is as good as that in CCAB.     

Is routine application of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting warranted?

The limitation and indication of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) remain controversial. Since May 1999, we have applied OPCAB for all isolated coronary bypass cases routinely. Intraoperative conversion to CCAB occurred in 8 patients (10.8%). The main reasons for conversion were intramyocardial coronary arteries and arythmia-induced hemodynamic instability in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. We evaluated the results of OPCAB as compared to conventional coronary artery bypass (CCAB) as a historical control. The operative mortality was 1.6% in both groups. Postoperative complications including renal failure and requirements of circulatory support were significantly less in OPCAB. Postoperative max CPK-MB value, the amount of postoperative bleeding and the requirement of transfusion were also significantly less in OPCAB. Only neurological complication in OPCAB was temporary delirium in a high-aged patient, whereas three patients developed neurological complications including permanent stroke in CCAB. Right heart bypass was effectively utilized to maintain hemodynamics and expose the posterior vessels in patients with severely dilated and poorly functioning left ventricle (EF: 24-31%) and a patient with multiple severe stenosis in cerebral arteries. Coronary angiogram performed after the operation demonstrated 94% of graft patency. These results warrant the further application of OPCAB for multivessel surgical revascularization.     

Off pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery versus conventional coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a systematic review of the literature

The recent development of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) graft surgical techniques has led to numerous observational and several randomized trials that have investigated outcomes compared with the current gold standard of conventional on-pump coronary bypass (CCAB) graft surgery. This systematic review assesses the current randomized trials that compare OPCAB and CCAB. Numerous end points were investigated, including mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, blood transfusions, wound infections, and renal failure. In addition to these important outcomes, resource utilization markers were also examined such as hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, and duration of intubation/ventilation. Finally, when level I evidence from randomized trials was unavailable, level II evidence was examined. This was done for subgroup analysis, where currently no randomized trials exist, looking at OPCAB in high-risk patients. Recommendations were made as to who should receive OPCAB and the potential benefits in this patient population.     

Off-pump multivessel coronary artery surgery in high-risk patients

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which may be more marked in high-risk patients. We evaluated our results of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) in high-risk patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and compared them with results in similar patients who underwent operation on cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: A total of 1,075 patients who underwent OPCAB between October 1996 and June 2001 and who had one or more of the following risk factors were included in the study: poor left ventricular function (EF < or = 30%), advanced age (> 70 years), left main stenosis, acute myocardial infarction, and redo coronary artery surgery. These patients were compared with 2,312 similar patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting on cardiopulmonary bypass during the same period. Preoperative risk factors, intraoperative variables, and postoperative results were analyzed and compared between two groups. RESULTS: The average number of grafts was 3.0 +/- 0.4 and 3.2 +/- 0.3 in the off-pump (OPCAB) and on-pump (CCAB) groups, respectively. Hospital mortality was 3.2% and 4.5% in OPCAB and CCAB groups respectively (p = 0.109). Perioperative myocardial infarction, requirement of inotropic agents, stroke, and renal dysfunction were comparable in two groups. Intubation time (19 +/- 5 vs 24 +/- 6 hours, p < 0.001), mean blood loss (362 +/- 53 vs 580 +/- 66 mL, p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (14.3 vs 19.7%, p < 0.001), and prolonged ventilation (4.6 vs 7.6%, p = 0.002) were less in OPCAB group. Intensive care unit stay (20 +/- 8 hours) and hospital stay (6 +/- 3 days) were significantly less in the OPCAB group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump coronary artery surgery can be safely performed in high-risk patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. Operative mortality is comparable to that associated with on-pump surgery, and avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with reduced postoperative morbidity in these patients.     

Cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass is gaining popularity as an alternative to conventional on-pump technique for myocardial revascularization. This includes minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) and full sternotomy off-pump (OPCAB) methods. These two approaches should be evaluated for financial and clinical appropriateness. METHODS: Records of patients who had single or double bypass (internal mammary artery and/or saphenous vein) grafts between January 1997 and June 1998 were reviewed. These included 44 MIDCAB, 62 OPCAB, and 243 conventional coronary artery bypass (CCAB) patients. Univariate analysis was applied to pre, intra, and postoperative variables, comparing MIDCAB and OPCAB to the CCAB group. Procedural cost information was obtained from participating institutions. RESULTS: MIDCAB patients compared to CCAB patients had a higher predicted risk (5.4+/-11 versus 2.3+/-2.8, p = 0.012) and OPCAB patients had a predicted risk of 5.3+/-7.8. MIDCAB and OPCAB procedures required less operating room time and blood utilization. Observed operative mortality rates were MIDCAB 4.5%, OPCAB 1.6%, and CCAB 2.8% (not significant). Mean hospital costs were CCAB at $19,000, OPCAB at $15,000, and $17,000 for MIDCAB. CONCLUSIONS: Off pump procedures currently reflect acute episode-of-care cost savings over CCAB.     

Rationale of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for left main trunk disease

Objective: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) remains controversial in patients with left main trunk (LMT) disease because of a concern about the ability to tolerate hemodynamic instability. This study examined the safety of OPCAB for LMT disease compared with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: Between April 1997 and December 2002, 257 consecutive patients with LMT stenosis who underwent CABG were enrolled. There were 98 patients who received CABG with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass (CCAB group), and 159 patients who received OPCAB (OPCAB group). Results: There was no patient who converted to on-pump intraoperatively due to hemodynamic instability. Both intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion incidence were lower in the OPCAB group. Postoperative course was similar, however, pulmonary complications were less observed postoperatively in the OPCAB group. No hypoperfusion syndrome was seen postoperatively in both groups. The average number of anastomosis was 3.2±1.1 in the CCAB group and 3.2±1.0 in the OPCAB group (p=0.645). Total arterial OPCAB with an aorta no-touch technique was achieved in 142 patients (89.3%) in OPCAB group. Postoperative angiography was performed in 95 patients in CCAB (96.9%), and in 141 patients in OPCAB (89.8%). Although graft patency of arterial grafts was good in both groups (100% in CCAB and 98.3% in OPCAB), saphenous vein graft patency was slightly lower in both groups (93.4% in CCAB and 76.5% in OPCAB) compared with arterial grafts. Conclusion: OPCAB allows a safe and effective treatment of LMT disease.     

Meta-analysis on the use of the Heartstring anastomotic device to prevent stroke in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Objective: Postoperative stroke is the Achilles’ heel of coronary artery bypass surgery compared with percutaneous coronary intervention. In this meta-analysis, we sought to determine the efficacy of the Heartstring proximal anastomotic device to reduce the risk of postoperative stroke after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Methods: Studies on the Heartstring device were identified by searching PubMed, Cochrane Library and Scopus up to November 2010. The results were expressed as pooled proportions (%) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Heterogeneity across the studies was evaluated by the I² test and a random effects model was used. Results: Eighteen articles were pertinent with this issue and we were able to retrieve data on the Heartstring anastomotic device in OPCAB from eight studies. Three studies were prospective and routine epi-aortic ultrasound was used in three studies. A total of 819 patients were enrolled in these eight studies and six of them suffered stroke postoperatively. Cumulative analysis showed a pooled rate of immediate postoperative stroke after OPCAB with the use of Heartstring of 1.9% (95% CI 0.8–4.5, I² = 23%). Sensitivity analysis including the only three studies evaluating patients with diseased ascending aorta as detected at epi-aortic ultrasound showed that a pooled rate of stroke was 3.2% (95% CI 0.8–11.9, I² = 0%). Six studies reported on immediate postoperative mortality and the pooled mortality rate was 1.9% (95% CI 0.1–3.4). Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the risk of stroke after OPCAB may not be markedly reduced by the use of Heartstring device. On the other hand, a rather low rate of stroke was observed among patients with diseased ascending aorta indicating its potential value in these patients. Most of studies included in this meta-analysis were of poor methodological quality, and properly conducted prospective studies are needed to get more conclusive results on the safety and efficacy of Heartstring anastomosis device.     

‘No Touch’ Techniques for Porcelain Ascending Aorta: Comparison Between Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Femoral Artery Cannulation and Off‐Pump Myocardial Revascularization

Abstract Background: Detection of severe atherosclerotic ascending aorta during coronary artery bypass grafting requires alterations in the standard surgical technique to reduce the probability of stroke‐related atheroembolization. Off‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) confers the benefits of avoiding aortic cannulation and clamping, and may therefore attenuate this risk. Methods: OPCAB (n # 41) was compared to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using femoral arterial cannulation and hypothermic fibrillatory arrest (n = 15), in patients with porcelain ascending aorta undergoing myocardial revascularization. In both groups, a ‘no touchrsquo; technique was applied by avoiding aortic cannulation and clamping. Proximal anastomoses on the atherosclerotic aorta were avoided by arterial grafting, (in‐situ or T‐graft configurations) in all cases. Results: Operative mortality was comparable (2.4% and 6.6% in the OPCAB and CPB groups respectively, p # NS). The rate of adverse neurological events, (two strokes and one transient ischemic attack), was higher in the CPB group (p # 0.0164). Based on brain CT, the nature of the recorded stroke suggested retrograde emboli. Three year survival (Kaplan‐Meier) for the OPCAB and CPB groups was 86.7% and 81.3%, respectively (p = NS). Occurrence of late neurological adverse events during follow‐up (8–51 months) was similar. Conclusions: In patients with porcelain ascending aorta undergoing myocardial revascularization, neurological outcome of OPCAB patients is better than CPB using femoral artery cannulation.     

Single proximal anastomosis for multiple vein coronary artery bypasses in diseased ascending aorta

Minimization of the manipulation of the diseased ascending aorta has been shown to be associated with a reduced risk of postoperative stroke during coronary artery bypass surgery. We describe in this paper a novel method in which a single proximal anastomosis has been performed in the same ostium on the ascending aorta for multiple coronary artery vein grafts.     

'No touch' techniques for porcelain ascending aorta: comparison between cardiopulmonary bypass with femoral artery cannulation and off-pump myocardial revascularization

BACKGROUND: Detection of severe atherosclerotic ascending aorta during coronary artery bypass grafting requires alterations in the standard surgical technique to reduce the probability of stroke-related atheroembolization. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) confers the benefits of avoiding aortic cannulation and clamping, and may therefore attenuate this risk. METHODS: OPCAB (n = 41) was compared to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using femoral arterial cannulation and hypothermic fibrillatory arrest (n = 15), in patients with porcelain ascending aorta undergoing myocardial revascularization. In both groups, a 'no touch' technique was applied by avoiding aortic cannulation and clamping. Proximal anastomoses on the atherosclerotic aorta were avoided by arterial grafting, (in-situ or T-graft configurations) in all cases. RESULTS: Operative mortality was comparable (2.4% and 6.6% in the OPCAB and CPB groups respectively, p = NS). The rate of adverse neurological events, (two strokes and one transient ischemic attack), was higher in the CPB group (p = 0.0164). Based on brain CT, the nature of the recorded stroke suggested retrograde emboli. Three year survival (Kaplan-Meier) for the OPCAB and CPB groups was 86.7% and 81.3%, respectively (p = NS). Occurrence of late neurological adverse events during follow-up (8-51 months) was similar. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with porcelain ascending aorta undergoing myocardial revascularization, neurological outcome of OPCAB patients is better than CPB using femoral artery cannulation.     

The effect off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery on in-hospital mortality and morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery is being increasingly reported to show better outcomes compared to conventional on bypass grafting. We examined the effect of OPCAB on in-hospital mortality and morbidity, while adjusting for patient and disease characteristics, in four institutions in the North West of England. METHODS: Between April 1997 and March 2001, 10,941 consecutive patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass surgery at these four institutions. Of these, 7.7% were performed off-pump. We used logistic regression to examine the effect of OPCAB on in-hospital mortality and morbidity after adjusting for potentially confounding variables. RESULTS: The crude odds ratio (OR) for death (off-pump versus on-pump coronary bypass grafting) was 0.48 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.26-0.92; P=0.023). After adjustment for all major risk factors, the OR for death was 0.59 (95% CI 0.31-1.12; P=0.105). Off-pump patients had a substantially reduced risk of post-operative stroke (0.6 versus 2.3%, respectively; adjusted OR 0.26 (95% CI 0.09-0.70; P=0.008) and a significant reduction in post-operative hospital stay. Other morbidity outcomes were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump coronary artery bypass incurs no increased risk of in-hospital mortality. In contrast, there is a significant reduction in morbidity in patients undergoing off-pump coronary bypass grafting when compared to that performed on cardiopulmonary bypass.     

Off-pump coronary bypass surgery: risk of ischemic brain lesions in patients with atheromatous thoracic aorta

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is an association between the proximal thoracic aortic (ascending aorta and aortic arch) atheroma and ischemic brain lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) after on-pump (ONCAB) and off-pump (OPCAB) coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent ONCAB surgery (n = 13) and who had aortic atheroma > 2 mm were compared to a risk-adjusted prospective cohort of patients (n = 13) undergoing OPCAB surgery. Transesophageal echocardiography and epiaortic scanning were performed to assess the proximal thoracic aorta. Patients were evaluated for new ischemic brain lesions utilizing DW-MRI three to seven days after surgery. The NEECHAM confusion scale was used to evaluate patient consciousness. RESULTS: The groups were comparable with respect to demographic data, and prevalence of preoperative risk factors. The extent and severity of aortic atheroma was similar in the two groups. The average maximum height of atheroma was 5.0 +/- 2.0 mm in the OPCAB and 4.8 +/- 1.9 in the ONCAB groups, respectively. The prevalence of new ischemic brain lesions on DW-MRI was 0% in the OPCAB group and 61% in the ONCAB group (P = 0.001). Patients in the OPCAB group were less confused during the first two postoperative days. CONCLUSION: Patients with aortic atheroma > 2 mm may have a lower risk of new ischemic brain lesions as identified by DWMRI after OPCAB surgery. Patient stratification based upon aortic atheroma burden should be addressed in future trials designed to tailor treatment strategies to improve short- and long-term neurological outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.     

Off-pump axillo-coronary artery bypass grafting with porcelain aorta

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with severely diseased ascending aorta has been associated with high risk for cerebral vascular accidents due to atheromatous embolism. In this situation, aortic no-touch techniques are widely employed as most important surgical strategy to prevent these complications. A case of 75-year-old man with effort angina associated with porcelain ascending aorta was reported here. He successfully underwent off-pump axillo-coronary bypass grafting with saphenous vein graft and has remained uneventful during his follow-up period. The off-pump axillo-coronary artery bypass grafting seemed to be an appropriate procedure for coronary revascularization with severely diseased ascending aorta.     

Increased incidence of acute ascending aortic dissection with off-pump aortocoronary bypass surgery?

BACKGROUND: An apparent increase in the incidence of acute ascending aortic dissection following off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) led us to assess retrospectively the rate and circumstances of this complication in our institution on a consecutive series of patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass performed with and without extracorporeal circulation (ECC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of acute ascending aortic dissections complicating coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in 3,031 patients in our institution since April 1, 1995, was performed using the database of the Montreal Heart Institute. RESULTS: There was a greater frequency of hypertension in the OPCAB group. Iatrogenic acute aortic dissection occurred in 3 patients among 308 operated on without ECC (0.97%) and 1 patient among 2,723 operated on under ECC (0.04%). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of aortic dissection may be increased in OPCAB. Careful manipulation of the aorta with a single side-clamping and a control of the arterial pressure should be used to minimize aortic trauma. High-risk patients should undergo CABG without side-clamping of the aorta or CABG with ECC to prevent this redoubtable complication of myocardial revascularization.