title: Off-pump multivessel coronary artery surgery in high-risk patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary artery bypass surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which may be more marked in high-risk patients. We evaluated our results of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) in high-risk patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and compared them with results in similar patients who underwent operation on cardiopulmonary bypass.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,075 patients who underwent OPCAB between October 1996 and June 2001 and who had one or more of the following risk factors were included in the study: poor left ventricular function (EF < or = 30%), advanced age (> 70 years), left main stenosis, acute myocardial infarction, and redo coronary artery surgery. These patients were compared with 2,312 similar patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting on cardiopulmonary bypass during the same period. Preoperative risk factors, intraoperative variables, and postoperative results were analyzed and compared between two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average number of grafts was 3.0 +/- 0.4 and 3.2 +/- 0.3 in the off-pump (OPCAB) and on-pump (CCAB) groups, respectively. Hospital mortality was 3.2% and 4.5% in OPCAB and CCAB groups respectively (p = 0.109). Perioperative myocardial infarction, requirement of inotropic agents, stroke, and renal dysfunction were comparable in two groups. Intubation time (19 +/- 5 vs 24 +/- 6 hours, p < 0.001), mean blood loss (362 +/- 53 vs 580 +/- 66 mL, p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (14.3 vs 19.7%, p < 0.001), and prolonged ventilation (4.6 vs 7.6%, p = 0.002) were less in OPCAB group. Intensive care unit stay (20 +/- 8 hours) and hospital stay (6 +/- 3 days) were significantly less in the OPCAB group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Off-pump coronary artery surgery can be safely performed in high-risk patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. Operative mortality is comparable to that associated with on-pump surgery, and avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with reduced postoperative morbidity in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi, India. meharwal@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zile Singh
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Meharwal
authors.forename: Yugal K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bapna
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trehan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology