title: Coronary artery bypass grafting on the beating heart using the Octopus method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the usefulness and effectiveness of off-pump coronary bypass grafting with the Octopus heart stabilizing device.
  
  
  METHODS
  The files of thirty-one patients undergoing coronary artery bypass with the aid of the Octopus heart stabilizing device between April 1996 and October 1998 were studied retrospectively. Patients were divided into group A (n = 23), patients with single or double vessel disease and technically suitable coronary lesions for off-pump procedure and group B (n = 8), patients with multiple vessel disease considered to be with excessive risk for cardiopulmonary bypass due to poor general condition combined with renal failure and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Standard median sternotomy (n = 27), lateral thoracotomy (n = 1) or minithoracotomy (n = 3) were performed for access and for harvesting the left internal mammary artery (LIMA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of bypasses was 1.2 and 1.1 in groups A and B, respectively. Thirty patients received a LIMA graft to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Homologous blood transfusions were needed in five patients (21%) in group A and four (50%) in group B. There were no wound infections or neurologic complications. All patients in group A survived and are asymptomatic. One patient in group B died of septic shock, two have residual angina pectoris or dyspnea, and five are asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coronary artery bypass using the Octopus heart stabilizing device proved to be a safe and effective technique resulting in complete revascularization in group A patients with no mortality. Incomplete revascularization may offer a substantial benefit to patients who cannot tolerate cardiopulmonary bypass due to poor general condition. We prefer median sternotomy, allowing precise harvesting of the internal mammary artery and more precise anastomoses without increased morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Thijssens
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Rodrigus
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Amsel
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: De Hert
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Moulijn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome