Initial experience with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) is clearly preferable for patients with extracardiac complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial outcome of OPCAB, and its validity for patients with extracardiac complications. One hundred and fifty-seven consecutive coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients were divided into two groups: 30 OPCAB patients and 127 on-pump CABG patients. The early outcomes of the two groups were compared. Preoperatively, OPCAB patients had more extracardiac risk factors than on-pump CABG patients. There were no differences in age or cardiac function between the groups, but the off-pump group had a higher incidence of previous surgery, cerebrovascular disease, and renal failure. There were no differences in graft patency, stroke, or mortality between the two groups, even though the OPCAB patients had more risk factors than the on-pump patients. Our initial experience with OPCAB showed that it is acceptable for high-risk patients in view of the serious nature of their extracardiac condition. Received: April 12, 2001 / Accepted: August 17, 2001     

45岁以下冠状动脉搭桥患者71例临床观察

目的:冠状动脉旁路手术已成为冠心病患者的有效治疗手段之一,青年冠心病患者逐年增多,分析我科10余年来45岁以下冠状动脉搭桥患者的临床特点。方法:连续71例45岁以下冠心病患者,在非体外循环下行冠状动脉搭桥术(Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting,OPCAB)。对于术前确诊无左心室附壁血栓的室壁瘤患者,在OPCAB同时行左心室室壁瘤缝缩术。对于冠状动脉存在弥散性病变的患者,采用冠状动脉内膜剥脱术式。而对右冠状动脉存在弥散性病变且管径细小的患者,施行选择性冠状静脉动脉化。并对患者例数变化、旁路血管移植支数、同期采用术式、愈后、并发症发生情况及OPCAB移植血管应用情况等指标进行总结。结果:患者平均移植旁路血管(3.0±0.7)支。术后死亡2例(2.8%)。29例施行全动脉化搭桥。同期行左心室室壁瘤折叠缝缩术7例。冠状动脉内膜剥脱术1例。1996年10月至2008年12月接受OPCAB手术的患者数量与比例逐年上升,但从2006年开始,45岁以下冠心病患者接受OPCAB手术呈逐年减少趋势,与其他年龄组患者相比,双乳内动脉搭桥比例高(P<0.05)。而搭桥数目差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:青年冠状动脉搭桥患者男性比例高,冠状动脉病变弥散,双乳内动脉搭桥比例高。对于远端血管纤细的患者,可以采用选择性冠状静脉动脉化手术,近期效果满意。     

On-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass using quadruple arterial grafts

The optimal combination of arterial grafts for quadruple coronary artery bypass is the bilateral internal mammary artery, the radial artery, and the gastroepiploic artery. Patients who underwent quadruple bypass in our hospital group between December 1995 and March 2001 were retrospectively analyzed to determine whether off-pump surgery (n = 27) provides better outcomes than conventional on-pump surgery (n = 51). Preoperative risk factors as well as the mean number of distal anastomoses (4.5 in the off-pump versus 4.8 in the on-pump patients) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Postoperative recovery was significantly faster in the off-pump group than in the on-pump group (intubation time, 6.4 versus 16 hours; stay in intensive care unit, 2 versus 3 days; and postoperative hospital stay, 12.3 versus 15.8 days). Early stenosis-free graft patency rates did not differ significantly (90.3% versus 89.3%). No late cardiac events were observed in the off-pump group, while 4 occurred in the on-pump group. Quadruple arterial bypass without cardiopulmonary bypass is safe, and it allows faster recovery. The follow-up results of off-pump patients so far have been satisfactory.     

Off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass: does number of grafts performed represent a selection bias in comparative studies? Results from a matched cohort comparison.

BACKGROUND: Several retrospective studies comparing off-pump and on-pump coronary surgery and the largest randomized studies published to date showed a lower number of grafts performed in patients submitted to off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). These findings bring about the question of the general applicability of the results. We eliminated the selection bias correlated with the number of grafts per patient by comparing the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing OPCAB and standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) matched for number of grafts. METHODS: Eighty-seven consecutive patients undergoing OPCAB (group A) were selected from the database of our Institution during a 2-year period. Matching was performed by iterative selection prioritizing, in the following sequence: number of grafts, EuroSCORE, and age. A total of 87 patients operated upon with the on-pump technique represented the control group (group B). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in preoperative characteristics between the two groups. The number of grafts per patient was 2.2 +/- 0.5 in group A and 2.2 +/- 0.5 in group B. Early mortality did not differ between the two groups and it was 2.2% (2 patients) in group A and 3.4% (3 patients) in group B (p = NS). The incidence of myocardial infarction did not differ between the two groups. No patient in either group had stroke or coma. Five (5.7%) patients in group A and 7 (8.0%) patients in group B had atrial fibrillation (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to demonstrate any significant differences in short-term mortality or morbidity outcome between OPCAB and standard CABG patients Our findings suggest that excellent results can be obtained with both surgical approaches.     

Conscious off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: Cardiothoracic surgery has been previously performed successfully under thoracic epidural anesthesia alone. Between October 2001 and December 2003, we performed 123 conscious off-pump coronary artery bypass surgeries using epidural anesthesia as the sole anesthetic. This technique is an alternative to cardiothoracic surgery performed under general anesthesia. Certain modifications in the technique facilitate the process. METHODS AND RESULTS: There were 24 female patients and 99 male patients with mean age of 58.6 +/- 6.2 years; 12 patients underwent repeat coronary artery bypass surgery. All the patients underwent epidural catheterization on the evening before surgery. Out of the 123 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery, 120 underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery successfully; 4 patients underwent off-pump surgery via left thoracotomy and the rest through mid sternotomy. These patients received 295 grafts in all (single graft in 26 patients, double in 42 patients, triple in 35 patients, and quadruple in 20 patients). Three patients required conversion to general anesthesia and one to cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no mortality in the group. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that by modifying the surgical techniques, we can accomplish conscious coronary artery bypass surgery.     

Off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in high-risk patients (EuroSCORE >/= 6)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the results of off-pump (OPCAB) versus conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CCAB) in high-risk patients. METHODS: In a cohort of patients with an additive EuroSCORE >/= 6, 67 underwent OPCAB and 112 underwent CCAB. RESULTS: Thirty-day postoperative death and stroke rates were 7.5 % and 6.0 % for the OPCAB group, and 5.4 % ( P = 0.75) and 8.0 % ( P = 0.77) for the CCAB group, respectively. No significant differences were observed for other major outcome endpoints other than cardiac troponin I (OPCAB: 117 +/- 428 ng/ml vs. CCAB: 58 +/- 99 ng/ml, P = 0.028), a result which was probably due to preoperative massive myocardial infarction in two very high-risk patients who underwent OPCAB. A similar outcome was also observed among propensity score-matched pairs. Congestive heart failure ( P = 0.006, OR: 6.366, 95 % CI: 1.682 - 24.093) and baseline cardiac index ( P = 0.018, OR: 0.171, 95 % CI: 0.040 - 0.735) were independent predictors of 30-day postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: OPCAB can be safely performed in high-risk patients with results as satisfactory as those achieved with CCAB.     

70岁以上女性冠心病患者非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术

目的　分析总结 5 2例 70岁以上女性冠心病患者非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术。方法　 2 0 0 0年 8月至2 0 0 3年 9月共完成 5 2例 70岁以上女性冠心病患者非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术 ,平均年龄 (71.4± 1.7)岁。本组病例 ,不稳定型心绞痛 2 7例 ,1个月内急性心肌梗死 7例。冠状动脉 3支血管病变 4 7例 ,左主干病变 10例。 9例左心室射血分数低于 30 % ,10例左心室舒张期末内径大于 6 0 mm。结果　完成非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术 5 0例 ,包括急症手术 3例。 2例改为体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术。平均远端血管吻合数 (2 .9± 1.2 )例。 4例使用主动脉气囊反搏。 1例术后 3周死于胸骨后感染所致多脏器功能衰竭。结论　非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术对 70岁以上女性患者是安全可行的。     

非体外循环与常规冠状动脉旁路移植术治疗重症冠心病的对比分析

目的：探讨重症冠心病患者非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（OPCAB）的可行性和优越性。方法：回顾性分析425例重症冠心病的冠状动脉旁路移植术临床资料。其中非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（OPCAB组）268例,占63．1％;常规体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（CCABG组）157例。比较两组术后早期死亡率及合并症的发生情况。结果：OPCAB组搭桥（4．09±0．75）支／人,CCABG组搭桥（4．17±0．86）支／人（P〉0．05）。两组新发心房纤颤、围术期心肌梗塞、肾功能不全、肺部并发症发生率差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。与CCABG组比较,OPCAB组手术死亡率、呼吸机使用时间、ICU停留时间、术后输血量、二次开胸率、神经系统并发症发生率明显降低或减少（P〈0．05～〈0．01）。结论：非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术在重症冠心病患者中安全可行,临床效果好。     

自体血回输在非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术中应用的必要性研究

目的 探讨非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCAB)中应用自体血回输的必要性。方法 2015年2月至2015年3月间40例行OPCAB的患者随机分为试验组(自体血回输)和对照组,收集围术期输血及肝肾功能等临床资料,确定自体血回输在OPCAB术中是否必须应用。结果 两组患者围术期均未输血,自体血回输可以显著提高患者术后早期的红细胞压积(35.93±3.68 vs 32.29±4.67),同时引起术后早期肝功能指标升高,但无统计学差异。结论 自体血回输可以显著提高术后早期的红细胞压积,但对围术期输血影响有限,并且可能造成术后肝功能损伤,因此并非全部患者术中均需应用自体血回输。     

高危患者行非体外循环与体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术早期临床结果的对比分析

目的比较单纯非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术（OPCAB）和单纯体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术（CCABG）在高危患者中的早期临床情况。方法高危患者的定义是其由欧洲心脏手术风险评估系统（VuroSCORE）得出的评分≥5分。将我院1999年1月至2003年12月所行197例高危CCABG和318例高危OPCAB两组患者的早期临床情况进行对比分析。结果OPCAB组和CCABG组EuroSCORE分值差异无统计学意义（6．1±1．2比6．3±1．4,P〉0．05）。OPCAB组年龄为（71．1±6．0）岁,高于CCABG组的（60．2±8．5）岁,P〈0．01。OPCAB组外周血管病患病率（47．8％）高于CCABG组（23．4％,P〈0．01）。OPCAB组手术死亡率[1．6％（5／318）]低于CCABG组[6．1％（12／197）,P〈0．01];术后恢复室（ICU）总时间[（90±169）h]少于CCABG组[（126±187）h,P〈0．05];术后辅助通气总时间[（21±45）h]少于CCABG组[（54±169）h,P〈0．01];术后行主动脉内球囊反搏（IABP）比例（2．5％）、术后因心脏问题再次手术比例（1．9％）、术后脑卒中比例（0．3％）及术后心跳骤停比例（2．8％）均低于CCABG组（分别为10．2％、5．6％、2．5％、6．6％,P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。结论在危险评分类似的高危患者中,与CCABG相比,OPCAB能够减少术后ICU时间和术后辅助通气时间,降低手术死亡率和术后并发症的发生率。但目前尚不能替代CCABG。     

Postoperative recurrence of angina pectoris after aortocoronary venous graft bypass

Fifty-six patients with angina pectoris under-went aortocoronary bypass graft implantation. All subjects had an initial angina-free postoperative period. Twelve patients so operated upon had a return of angina pectoris; their clinical and catheterization findings did not differ in any respect when compared with those in the pain-free group. Eight subjects with occlusion of all aortocoronary grafts denied postoperative angina pectoris. It is concluded that caution should be exercised in attributing the relief of angina pectoris to aortocoronary bypass graft patency.     

体外循环与非体外循环下冠脉旁路移植术后的血管桥通畅比较

目的：比较非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（OPCABG）与常规冠状动脉旁路移植术（CCABG）术后3-4年时血管桥的通畅率。方法：2003年1月-2004年12月间40例单独行冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）的患者资料回顾性地被分为OPCABG组和CCABG组。OPCABG组通过胸骨正中切口,在非体外循环心脏不停跳下完成CABG;CCABG组建立常规体外循环,心脏停搏下完成CABG。两组术前的一般情况无明显区别。利用多层螺旋CT（multislice spiral CT,MSCT）造影检查及CT图像后处理,研究两种术式各条血管桥的通畅情况。结果：CCABG及OPCABG组在左乳内动脉（LI MA）到前降支（LAD）的通畅率分别达到94.1%,94.4%,后降支（PDA）为88.2%,91.6%,钝缘支（包括对角支）的通畅率分别为88.9%,90.9%,静脉桥的通畅率为87.8%,88.0%,动脉桥的通畅率为85.7%,91.3%。各组间统计差别均无显著性。结论：OPCABG旁路血管桥的3-4年通畅率可以和CCABG相媲美.OPCAB治疗冠心病的初期结果显示可以减少术后并发症、减少患者术后呼吸机辅助时间和ICU留观时间、住院时间,降低住院费用,它的普及势在必然。     

双源CT评价冠状动脉搭桥术后桥血管通畅率的临床研究

目的比较非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（OPCABG）与常规冠状动脉旁路移植术（常规CABG）术后5年血管桥的通畅率。方法2006年1月至2008年1月间40例单独行冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）的患者资料回顾性地被分为OPCABG组和常规CABG组。OPCABG组通过胸骨正中切口,在非体外循环心脏不停跳下完成CABG;常规CABG组建立常规体外循环心脏停搏下完成CABG。两组术前的一般情况无明显差异。利用双源CT造影检查及CT图像后处理,研究两种术式各条血管桥的通畅情况。结果常规CABG组及OPCABG组左乳内动脉（uMA）到前降支（LAD）的通畅率都达到100％,静脉桥的通畅率分别为93．87％和94．23％,组间比较差异均无统计学意义。结论OPCABG旁路血管桥的3~5年通畅率可以和常规CABG相媲美。OPCAB治疗冠心病的初期结果显示可以减少术后并发症,减少患者术后呼吸机辅助时间、ICU留观时间和住院时间,降低住院费用。     

Coronary artery bypass performed without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with reduced cerebral microemboli and improved clinical results

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Strokes and neurocognitive dysfunction have been correlated with cerebral microemboli produced during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The purpose of this study was to determine whether, and to what extent, off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) reduces the occurrence of cerebral microemboli compared with traditional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with CPB and to compare clinical results. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A retrospective review of 137 patients undergoing elective CABG was performed, 70 of whom underwent traditional CABG and 67 of whom underwent OPCAB. Using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, 40 patients (20 CABG, 20 OPCAB) were continuously monitored intraoperatively for the occurrence and pattern of cerebral microemboli. SETTING: Private, university-affiliated tertiary care hospitals. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the age, sex, or underlying comorbidities between those patients undergoing CABG and OPCAB. CABG patients did have a slightly lower preoperative ejection fraction (50.9% vs 55.5%, p = 0.03). Despite these similar preoperative characteristics, the OPCAB group experienced significant reductions in cerebral microemboli (27 vs 1,766, p = 0.003), transfusion requirements (29.9% vs 47.1%, p = 0.04), intubation time (3.3 vs 9.5 h, p < 0.001), ICU length of stay (1.5 vs 2.8 days, p = 0.02), and overall hospitalization (4.9 vs 6.6 days, p = 0.01) without an increase in mortality. Fewer strokes and deaths were observed in the OPCAB group, but these trends failed to reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: In similar patient populations, OPCAB was associated with significantly fewer cerebral microemboli and improved clinical results without an increase in mortality. We believe that these early results support OPCAB as a viable and potentially safer alternative to traditional CABG.     

Late increase in luminal diameter of aortocoronary venous bypass grafts associated with an increase in the vascular region under supply

In a previous study, a significant inverse relation was found between the luminal size of aortocoronary venous bypass grafts and the vascular resistance of the coronary region that was perfused by the bypass graft in late stages after bypass surgery. This observation suggested that changes in the graft-dependent vascular area could influence the luminal size of the vein graft, even when they occurred several years after operation. Whereas it is well established today that aortocoronary vein grafts often decrease in luminal diameter after implantation, an increase in the bypass lumen has so far not been reported. Therefore, changes in luminal diameter of 27 vein grafts in 21 patients who underwent at least two postoperative angiographic studies (first study 8 +/- 5 months after surgery, second study 58 +/- 32 months after surgery) were compared with the size of the vascular region supplied by the bypass. The graft diameter was found to be unchanged between the two studies (3.3 +/- 0.6 versus 3.4 +/- 0.7 mm, p = NS) when the dependent vascular area was unchanged. A significant increase in graft diameter from 2.8 +/- 0.8 to 3.9 +/- 0.9 mm (p less than 0.001) was observed in nine patients in whom the area of perfusion had increased between the two studies because of the development of occlusion or obstruction of major coronary branches that were now perfused from the grafted vessel by way of collateral vessels. These data support the contention that the luminal size of aortocoronary vein grafts can adapt to the needs of the dependent myocardial vascular region even late after operation rather than being the result of a nonreversible degenerative process as commonly assumed.     

Perioperative advantages of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

For the first time in Japan, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) was compared with the conventional on-pump technique, retrospectively examining the morbidity associated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and assessing the efficacy of OPCAB. In 2000, 158 patients underwent CABG: 95 patients (60%) had OPCAB (Group I) and 63 patients (40%) had conventional CABG (Group II). The operating time, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ventilation time, postoperative bleeding, transfusion, postoperative renal function, occurrence of stroke, and early graft patency were examined in both groups. There were no hospital deaths in either group. The operating time, ICU stay, and ventilation time were significantly (p < 0.0001, p = 0.013, and p < 0.0001, respectively) shorter in Group I (351 +/- 85 min, 3.0 +/- 1.4 days, and 5.1 +/- 2.8h) than in Group II (449 +/- 112 min, 3.6 +/- 1.8 days, and 13.7 +/- 18.0 h). The postoperative blood loss within 12h and the transfusion volume were significantly (p = 0.0004 and p < 0.0001, respectively) smaller in Group I (480 +/- 210 ml and 300 +/- 490ml) than in Group II (720 +/- 430ml and 1,230 +/- 1,180 ml). Peak serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations (excluding patients with preoperative chronic renal failure, ie a preoperative serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl) were significantly (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively) lower in Group I (16.2 +/- 15.2mg/dl and 0.81 +/- 0.72 mg/dl) than in Group II (19.2 +/- 7.6 mg/dl and 0.92 +/- 0.28 mg/dl). There were no perioperative strokes in Group I, but 6.4% of Group II patients suffered a stroke. There was no significant difference in graft patency between the groups (95.6% vs 94.9%). OPCAB reduced the mortality and morbidity of coronary revascularization, with a shorter operating time and more rapid recovery from surgery.     

Radial artery graft use and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery outcome

Radial artery is commonly used as a conduit for surgical revascularization. There is scarce data on the effect of radial artery use on outcome following off-pump coronary artery bypass. We prospectively evaluated 591 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass. Radial artery grafts were used in 398 of these patients (mean age, 67.6 +/- 10.4 years; mean follow-up, 37.7 +/- 13.4 months). Symptom recurrence (angina, congestive heart failure), adverse cardiac events (myocardial infarction, coronary re-intervention, sudden cardiac death), and overall mortality were recorded. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate predictors of endpoints. Patients with and without radial artery grafts were similar with respect to preoperative risk factors. Recurrent angina developed in 29 patients, congestive heart failure in 5, and myocardial infarction in 9. Coronary arteriography was performed in 27 patients, and 23 underwent re-intervention. Radial artery graft was an independent predictor of increased symptom recurrence and adverse cardiac events. Patients with radial artery grafts also had a tendency towards more angina recurrence, coronary re-intervention, and sudden cardiac death.     

Stress electrocardiography in the evaluation of aortocoronary bypass surgery

Forty-five patients having saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass surgery were studied prospectively by pre- and post-operative hypoxemia and graded exercise electrocardiography. The stress electrocardiographic results were correlated with the degree of symptomatic relief and the angiographic evidence of graft patency and the distribution and evolution of coronary occlusive disease.Forty-one of the total group of 45 patients (91 per cent) and 32 of 34 (94 per cent) with one or more documented open grafts had excellent or good symptomatic improvement. Incongruously, five of seven patients with closed grafts also had significant clinical improvement.Functional improvement was documented in 53 per cent of patients after aortocoronary bypass surgery, in terms of postoperative reversal of the preoperatively positive stress ECG or persistance of a negative stress ECG, together with the achievement of significantly greater mean maximum exercise and heart rate. All of these patients had one or more patent saphenous vein bypass grafts. Forty-seven per cent of the patients failed to display objective evidence of improvement: post-operatively the stress ECG either remained positive, or became so, and, collectively, the group was unable to significantly increase the mean maximum exercise level or heart rate, in comparison to that achieved before surgery. Only 65 per cent of these subjects had one or more patent bypass grafts.Stress electrocardiography and quantitation of the maximum work and heart rate achieved by exercise provide accurate assessments of the relief of myocardial ischemia produced by myocardial revascularization. In this study, when the post-operative stress ECG was negative and the patient was able to achieve significantly greater exercise and heart rate, the probability of patency of one or more bypass grafts was virtually certain. On the other hand, when the postoperative stress ECG was positive and little or no increase in exercise and heart rate was possible, there was high probability of graft occlusion or significant residual coronary disease.     

术前低剂量胺碘酮预防非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术后心房颤动

目的 前瞻性的评估术前低剂量胺碘酮预防非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术后心房纤颤(房颤)的安全性、耐受性和有效性. 方法 将200例择期行非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植手术(OPCAB)治疗的冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病患者随机分成研究组和对照组.对照组100例,术前给予常规药物和安慰剂;研究组100例,术前给予常规药物和低剂量胺碘酮,术后两组均用常规药物.结果 研究组的房颤发生率(15%)、房颤时最大心室率(126.0±20.8)次/min,房颤持续时间(8.0±8.6)h均低于对照组的房颤发生率((41%),(χ2=16.766,P=0.000]、房颤时最大心室率((150.0±25.6)次/min,t=0.478,P=0.017]以及房颤持续时间[(12.0±9.6)h,t=0.439,P=0.019].本实验结果 显示研究组药物不良反应的发生较对照组差异无统计学意义(P均0.05).结论 术前预防性应用低剂量胺碘酮能安全有效减少房颤发生率,缩短房颤持续时间,并能降低术后房颧最大心室率,减轻临床症状.     

Early and mid-term impacts of cardiopulmonary bypass on coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with poor left ventricular dysfunction: a propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass may exacerbate myocardial damage in compromised left ventricles. Early and mid-term outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) vs on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (On-pump CABG) were compared in patients with poor left ventricular dysfunction, using an analysis of a propensity score matching. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between December 2000 and November 2005, 1,473 patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in our institute and 153 patients who had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) lower than 35% were enrolled. The OPCAB group contained 100 patients and the On-pump CABG group contained 53 patients. Preoperative risk factors were compared and 50 patients in each group were matched. The mean follow-up time was 35.5+/-17.3 months. Three deaths (3.0%) occurred in the matched cohort, with no significant difference between 2 groups. The operation time, ventilation time, intensive care unit admission time and occurrence of respiratory failure were significantly lower in the OPCAB group. The mean LVEF of the 2 groups improved significantly. The overall 6-year actuarial survival rates of the OPCAB and On-pump CABG group were 88.2% and 72.4% (p=0.2), respectively, and there were no significant differences in 6-year rates of freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (p=0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with poor left ventricular dysfunction improved myocardial function. Postoperative respiratory failure was significantly related to the cardiopulmonary bypass for surgical myocardial revascularization. Off-pump and On-pump surgical revascularization resulted in equivalent mid-term outcomes.