[Early results and new indication of the off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB)].
BACKGROUND
The off-Pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) has recently gained popularity. However the safety and feasibility of the procedure has not been fully proven especially for unstable myocardial ischemia.


METHODS
Between March 1998 and November 2000, 135 patients with a mean age of 69.7 (41-95) underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass via sternotomy. Eight patients were operated on emergently and 11 were urgently. LV function ranged from 8% to 70%. Eleven patients required preoperative IABP.


RESULTS
All procedures were completed without conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean number of grafts per patient was 2.8 (range, 1 to 6). Cardiac-related hospital mortality was 2.2% (3/135). Angiographic assessment of grafts demonstrated an overall patency of 98.0%, arterial grafts 98.7% and venous grafts 96.6%. In retrospect, these were equivalent results of conventional coronary artery bypass by the same operator.


CONCLUSIONS
OPCAB is safe and feasible even with LV dysfunction or unstable myocardial ischemia.
Asai
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T
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kanazawa Cardiovascular Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.
Tabata
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Shiozawa
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H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data