title: Off-pump coronary operation at the Favaloro Foundation: results in 264 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to determine whether complete myocardial revascularization "off pump" was feasible while maintaining the efficacy of conventional surgical techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  264 patients were operated on between March 15, 1998, and August 26, 1999. A total of 218 (82.6%) were men and the average age was 61.4 years (range 28 to 87 years). Left main occlusions were present in 10.2% and 84% had multiple vessel disease. A total of 628 grafts were implanted, an average of 2.4 grafts per patient. Total arterial revascularization was achieved in 81.5% using both internal mammary arteries and the radial artery, one or more venous grafts in 18.1%, and venous alone in 0.3%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical mortality was 2.2% and perioperative myocardial infarction was 3%. There were no neurologic events in this group of patients. In the first 73 patients coronary angiography control was performed before discharge and all grafts were patent. Angioplasty was carried out in 2 patients (0.76%) and conversion of procedure in 4 (1.5%). Follow-up time was 4 to 14 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This procedure enabled revascularization of all areas of the heart, usually with total arterial revascularization, and excellent patency rates. The morbidity and mortality observed was similar to conventional surgery. The incidence of secondary complications (bleeding, need for transfusion, prolonged mechanical ventilation, or neurologic events) was lower.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Favaloro Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ew@datamarkets.com.ar
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Weinschelbaum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machain
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Raffaelli
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Caramutti
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Favaloro
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Dulbecco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Danielo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000601:surgery; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D014654:Vascular Patency