Off-pump coronary artery bypass operation does not increase procoagulant and fibrinolytic activity: preliminary results.
BACKGROUND
This study analyzes the effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis comparing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and on-pump CABG operations.


METHODS
In a prospective, nonrandomized, comparative evaluation, patients scheduled for elective myocardial revascularization were studied. Due to possible confounding factors patients with postoperative retransfusion of mediastinal shed blood were excluded. Nine patients underwent OPCAB operation and 16 underwent on-pump CABG. Activated clotting time (ACT) was adjusted to 250 seconds in OPCAB (81 +/- 18 [mean +/- SD] IU/kg heparin) and to more than 480 seconds in on-pump CABG (400 IU/kg heparin, additional 10,000 IU in pump prime). Perioperatively blood samples were collected and hematologic and hemostatic variables including fibrinopeptide A (FPA), fibrin monomer (FM), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and D-dimer were analyzed.


RESULTS
Both groups showed comparable demographic variables. Number of grafts per patient was slightly higher in the on-pump group (3.6 +/- 0.6 versus 3.0 +/- 1.1, p = 0.23). The FPA levels did not differ significantly between the groups. The FM, TAT, and D-dimer values were significantly higher in on-pump CABG (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, and p < 0.0001, respectively), reflecting increased coagulant and fibrinolytic activity. This was also the case when values were corrected for hemodilution.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite lower systemic anticoagulation activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis is reduced in OPCAB compared with on-pump CABG. Reduced thrombin generation and reduced fibrinolytic activity in OPCAB indicates better preservation of hemostasis. We suggest the term "preserved hemostasis" instead of "hypercoagulant activity" with respect to OPCAB.
Englberger
Lars
L
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Berne (Inselspital), Berne, Switzerland. lars.englberger@insel.ch
Immer
Franz F
FF
Eckstein
Friedrich S
FS
Berdat
Pascal A
PA
Haeberli
Andre
A
Carrel
Thierry P
TP
D000368:Aged; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A / Q000032:analysis; D006400:Hematocrit; D006438:Hemodilution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies
C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A; D000990:Antithrombin III; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases