Does Totally Endoscopic Access for Off-pump Cardiac Surgery Influence the Incidence of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting? A Preliminary Report

Background The occurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting, quoted in the literature, is wide ranging from 5% to over 40%. It is speculated that, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and also minimally invasive cardiac surgery reduces the incidence of postoperative AF due to reduced trauma, ischemia, and inflammation. Current data, however, do not clearly answer the question, whether the incidence of postoperative AF is reduced in using minimally invasive techniques, ideally resulting in the combination of both small access and off-pump surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of postoperative AF in patients undergoing totally endoscopic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB).Methods A retrospective analysis of 72 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization was performed. Early postoperative incidence of AF was compared between three groups of patients: 24 after conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 24 after OPCAB, and 24 after totally endoscopic off-pump CABG. Clinical profile of the patients, including factors having potential influence on postoperative AF was matched for groups.Results Postoperative AF occurred in 25% of the patients in the CABG group, in 16% of the patients in the OPCAB group, and in 16% of the patients in the TECAB group. This difference has no statistical significance. Risk factors and incidence of postoperative complications were comparable in all groups excepting the number of distal anastomoses. There was a statistical significance between CABG group and TECAB group.Conclusion Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and minimizing surgical trauma did not reduce the incidence of postoperative AF in this patient collective. It remains an attractive hypothesis that postoperative AF is reduced by off-pump myocardial revascularisation and minimizing surgical trauma but more robust data are required.     

Diabetes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Impact on perioperative outcome

Summary Diabetes mellitus is an established risk factor related to significant morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting. Data on 9682 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting either with (n=8917) or without cardiopulmonary bypass (off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting; n=765) were subjected to an univariate analysis to identify potential associations between diabetes mellitus and 26 a priori selected perioperative outcome variables. Those having a significant association with diabetes were then subjected to a stepwise logistic regression model to identify the impact of diabetes as compared to additional 22 different a priori chosen patient related risk factors and treatment variables. Prevalence of outcome variables independently associated with diabetes has been determined in the subgroup of diabetics undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass or off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery to evaluate the effect of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass on perioperative patient outcome. Diabetes mellitus was defined as glucose intolerance either treated dietary, with oral hypoglycemics or with insulin. According to this definition of diabetes mellitus we found an overall prevalence of 37.1% (coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass: 37.5%; off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: 32.5%). Eleven outcome variables having a significant association with diabetes were identified. Diabetes could be identified as an independent predictor of postoperative delirium, renal dysfunction and respiratory insufficiency. Prevalence of these three variables was lower in diabetics undergoing offpump coronary artery bypass grafting as in those undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass surgery reaching statistical significance with regard to postoperative delirium and respiratory insufficiency. In conclusion, diabetes mellitus is a significant independent predictor for three postoperative outcome variables in coronary artery bypass surgery. Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass in diabetics seems to have a beneficial effect.     

Current status of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

The expanding indications for angioplasty coupled with the successful short and mid-term results of randomized controlled trials of drug-eluting stents have already had an unquestionable impact on the practice of coronary revascularization operations. However, coronary artery bypass grafting remains a major mode of therapy for coronary artery disease. It is likely that surgery will continue to be preferred for more complex subsets and that surgeons will have to continue to maintain good results in patients with more complex problems. Concerns regarding morbidity associated with conventional surgical myocardial revascularization on cardiopulmonary bypass have led to a resurgence of interest in off-pump bypass surgery during the last decade, with the expectation that it would be safer if cardiopulmonary bypass could be avoided. This review summarizes the impact of off-pump bypass surgery in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with conventional coronary artery bypass on cardiopulmonary bypass by evaluating the current best-available evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses comparing off-pump surgery with conventional bypass grafting.     

Coronary artery surgery: conventional coronary artery bypass grafting versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Coronary revascularization has become the principal treatment modality in patients with severe coronary artery disease. The broader application of percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with multivessel disease and the recent introduction of drug-eluting stents have both lead to a decline in the number of patients referred for surgical revascularization. Conventional coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass is an excellent treatment, however less invasive surgical approaches such as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting have appeared in the past few years. The exact role of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is still vaguely defined and being critically evaluated. Our aim is to provide an objective review of the recent literature in regard to surgical outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: A critical review of all relevant clinical series from May 2003 to May 2005 was conducted. Current prospective data suggests that both techniques have similar rates of mortality, in regard to morbidity, multiple prospective studies suggest a decrease in stroke rates for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. The incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction does not appear to differ between techniques. When analyzed carefully, the results presented herein seem to indicate that both techniques provide similar rates for long-term patency and freedom from surgical reintervention. SUMMARY: Coronary artery bypass grafting and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting are both safe and beneficial in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. It appears that elderly patients with additional co-morbid risk factors may benefit most from off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. It has become increasingly apparent that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed safely in reference centers.     

老年患者行停跳或非停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术后早期及远期结果

目的观察常规冠状动脉旁路移植术(CCABG)及非停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCAB)对于老年患者(年龄>65岁)术后早期及远期的发病率及死亡率的影响。方法收集自1999年1月至2003年12月共1191例年龄>65岁的冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)患者资料,其中行CCABG744例,行OPCAB 447例。早期结果观察项目包括院内死亡率及术后发病率,远期结果观察项目包括总死亡率,再血管化,Q波心肌梗死,卒中,再次入院及复合终点事件,并利用Cox回归分析进行评估。结果对于早期结果的单变量分析显示,OPCAB有着明显优越性,在根据患者基线特征进行调整后,OPCAB仍然具有优越性。Kaplan-Meier生存分析表明OPCAB术后患者主要不良心脑血管事件(MACCEs)及再次入院发生率更高(P<0.001),而在总死亡率(P=0.193)及再血管化比例(P=0.067)方面较CCABG没有明显增高。对于术后远期结果的Cox回归分析显示,行OPCAB患者卒中发生率更高[风险比(RR):2.611,95%可信区间(GI):2.152～3.070],再次入院率更高(RR:2.000,95%CI:1.747～2.253),MACCEs发生率更高(RR:1.764,95%CI:1.456～2.072)。结论与CCABG比较,OPCAB可使老年患者在术后早期受益,但这些早期获益并不能延续到术后远期,其远期结果可能因血运重建不充分而较CCABG差。     

非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术疗效初步评价

随着手术技术及器械研制的进步 ,非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术 (OPCABG)已广泛应用于临床。与传统冠状动脉旁路移植术 (CCABG)比较 ,OPCABG术后桥血管通畅率无明显变化 ,术后心、脑、肺等常见并发症减少 ,死亡率低 ,ICU及总住院时间缩短 ,费用低 ,对高危患者更具安全性。是冠心病患者有效可靠的治疗手段     

Beating heart versus conventional reoperative coronary artery bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: The incidence of reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting is increasing with an increase in the number of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The clinical outcome of redo coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass and conventional coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass are different. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared clinical parameters in patients who underwent off-pump (n=156) versus on-pump (n=194) redo coronary artery bypass grafting performed between January 1995 and December 2001 in our institute, to determine if off-pump surgery has improved the surgical outcome of redo coronary artery bypass grafting and emerged as an ideal technique. Patients who underwent on-pump redo surgery required more postoperative blood transfusion (86.53% on-pump v. 12.82% off-pump. p=0.001), prolonged ventilatory support (>24 hours) (16.49% on-pump v. 7.7% off-pump, p=0.021) and higher inotropic support (23.71% on-pump v. 10.89% off-pump, p=0.003). On-pump redo coronary artery bypass grafting was also associated with a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (40+/-6.2 hours on-pump v. 20+/-4.1 hours off-pump, p=0.001) and longer hospital stay (9+/-4.2 days on-pump v. 5+/-3.4 days off-pump, p=0.001). In-hospital mortality was higher in on-pump patients than in off-pump ones (7.7% v. 3.2%); however, this was not statistically significant (p=0.114). CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump redo coronary artery bypass grafting is a safe method of myocardial revascularization with lower operative morbidity and mortality, less requirement of blood products and early hospital discharge, compared with conventional on-pump redo coronary artery bypass grafting.     

Current status of MIDCAB procedure

The advent of cardiopulmonary bypass in the early 1960s allowed surgeons to safely perform complex reconstructions on the heart. Since then, the field of cardiac surgery has progressed to where surgical myocardial revascularization, or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), has become the most exhaustively studied operation in the history of surgery, and it has achieved widespread use because its benefits have been so thoroughly documented. The paradoxical fact is that more elderly and debilitated patients benefit the most from cardiac surgery compared with medical therapy, yet they sustain greater risk of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Most of the recent innovations and refinements in the treatment of coronary artery disease aim toward reduction of trauma without deviating much from the safety and efficacy of the conventional procedures. As a consequence, a greater number of high-risk elderly patients have become candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). All of the amendments are caused by changing clinical scenarios brought on by an increased number of aging patients, a greater number of patients requiring re-operations, cost containment, increased discernment about outcome assessment, and also the dominance of coronary bypass being threatened by the success of interventional cardiology.     

The adequacy of myocardial revascularization in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease

In patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease (MVCAD) myocardial revascularization may be accomplished either on all diseased lesions – complete myocardial revascularization – or on selectively targeted coronary segments by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Complete revascularization has a potential long-term prognostic benefit, but is more complex and may increase in-hospital events when compared with incomplete revascularization.     

186例老年冠心病患者是、否体外循环下冠脉旁路移植术的比较

目的:比较老年冠心病患者体外循环与非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术的疗效。方法:A组选择87例65岁以上的老年患者在体外循环下行冠状动脉旁路移植术(CCABG);B组选择79例65岁以上的老年患者在非体外循环下行冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCABG)。结果:B组死亡率低于A组(P<0.05),术后胸腔引流量明显少于A组(P<0.05)。结论:老年冠心病患者行冠状动脉旁路移植术是安全的。     

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。     

严重左心室功能不全冠心病的外科手术治疗

目的总结严重左心室功能不全（LVEF≤35％）冠心病患者行冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）的临床经验。方法回顾性研究分析23例有严重左心室功能不全冠心病患者行CABG的临床资料,其中合并左主干病变18例,合并室壁瘤6例,合并室间隔穿孔1例;16例采取非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术,7例在体外循环下行冠状动脉旁路移植术。结果死亡2例,21例患者治愈出院。随诊6～36个月,无死亡．2例患者有心绞痛发作。结论CABG术对有严重左心室功能不全的冠心病是有效的治疗方法,手术效果取决于存活心肌的多少和可再血管化血管的数量。     

Awake off- pump coronary artery bypass surgery in 25 patients

Objectives To test the feasibility of the use of high thoracic epidural anesthesia as a sole anesthetic in patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass surgery, avoiding general anesthesia. Methods Between October 2002 to April 2003, twenty five cases underwent beating heart coronary artery revascularization without endotracheal general anesthesia, using high thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia. All the patients underwent epidural catheterization on the evening before the surgery. Resuits The patients in all received 71 grafts (single n= 11, double n = 5, triple n = 6, quadruple n =3). Six patients underwent repeat coronary artery bypass. Except one was converted to general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass, the other patients underwent off- pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery, 2 patients underwent grafting via left thoracotomy (MIDCAB) and the rest through mid sternotomy. There was no mortality. Mean length of stay in the intensive care unit was 16 . 2 ( 4.2 hours and hospital was 3.0(1.2 days. Conclusions Our experience confirms the feasibility of performing muhiple coronary artery bypasses in conscious patients without endotracheal general anesthesia.     

非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术在左主干重度狭窄患者中的应用

目的总结左主干重度狭窄冠心病患者行非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（OPCAB）的治疗效果和临床经验。方法回顾分析2005年1月至2012年6月,83例左主干狭窄〉70％的患者接受了非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术,其中27例急诊手术,三支病变62例,两支病变21例,术中改为体外循环5例;使用主动脉内球囊反搏7例。结果远端吻合口平均（3．34±0．83）个,死亡2例（2．4％）。随访2个月至2年,仅1例心绞痛复发,余者均未出现心绞痛症状。手术效果及手术并发症的发生与非左主干病变组差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论左主干重度狭窄行非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术临床效果良好。     

Surgical approaches to coronary artery disease

Opinion statement In this rapidly evolving era of coronary surgery, technologic advances have allowed the development of new myocardial revascularization strategies. Although conventional coronary artery bypass grafting is being challenged by other promising surgical procedures such as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, it remains the gold standard in patients with multivessel disease. Accurate evaluations of these new procedures are ongoing to assess their effectiveness and to define their role in the armamentarium of myocardial revascularization.     

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.     

Total arterial anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for diffuse coronary disease – A case report

Surgical treatment of diffuse coronary artery disease remains challenging. We present here a diabetic patient, with diffuse coronary disease, revascularized using total arterial anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. He received total nine distal grafts. He continues to be asymptomatic after more than 2 years. CT angiography follow-up shows eight out of nine grafts are patent. Anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has the least incidence of stroke and arterial grafts have the best long-term patency rate. This is the first case report of nine arterial bypass graft performed off-pump using both internal mammary and both radial arteries. Anaortic total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has achieved excellent intermediate term result in this patient of diffuse coronary artery disease.     

Bypassing the pump: changing practices in coronary artery surgery

Improvements in techniques in coronary revascularization over the past decade have led to a revival of interest in off-pump coronary artery surgery. A fifth of coronary revascularization procedures are now performed off-pump. Randomized trials comparing off-pump surgery with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) mainly included low-risk patients and were therefore underpowered to detect a difference in mortality. Current evidence, however, suggests a significant reduction in morbidity with off-pump surgery. The avoidance of CPB and the elimination of any aortic manipulation may significantly reduce the risk of stroke. Those benefits are likely to be most marked in older, sicker patients, who represent an increasing proportion of the surgical population.     

Redo off-pump coronary bypass grafting with arterial grafts for Kawasaki disease

Surgical revascularization for coronary artery lesions secondary to Kawasaki disease is relatively uncommon. The late stenosis of the saphenous vein graft is the problem to be solved. We report a case of redo off-pump coronary bypass grafting in a 35-year-old man, 20 years after bypass grafting using a saphenous vein graft. Off-pump total arterial revascularization was performed uneventfully. The procedure comprised grafting of bilateral internal thoracic arteries to left anterior descending branch and obtuse marginal branch, and radial artery to AV branch and posterior descending branch. Off-pump total arterial revascularization is a safe and less invasive procedure at the time of redo operation, even for patients with Kawasaki disease.     

Minimally invasive CABG

For more than three decades, conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (full sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and cardioplegic arrest) has been the treatment of choice for patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease. However, neurologic injury secondary to ascending aortic manipulation and systemic inflammatory reaction related to cardiopulmonary bypass are major causes of morbidity. During the past decade research efforts have been focused on the development of innovative revascularization techniques to minimize these deleterious effects. Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery was developed to reduce chest trauma and to accelerate patient recovery. The relatively recent introduction of mechanical stabilizers and positioning devices has allowed for the safe performance of off-pump coronary artery bypass for patients with multi-vessel disease. Robotic technology has offered the possibility of myocardial revascularization through limited access using endoscopic principles. Recently, emphasis has been placed on the development of new sutureless anastomotic devices that may revolutionize the field of myocardial revascularization and allow a broader acceptance of minimally invasive CABG. Despite the increasing availability of new technologies, the validity of these procedures must be evaluated carefully. Prospective randomized studies and longitudinal follow-up will be required.