[Coronary surgery without extracorporeal circulation: the short-term results in high-risk patients]

This study was conducted to assess the impact of coronary bypass surgery (CABG) without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on high-risk patients.

From February 1997 to July 1998, 71 patients considered at high-risk underwent a CABG off-pump. Using the "Higgins score", eleven preoperative risk factors were identified and stratified in this group of patients. Among 1271 patients who underwent CABG with CPB in the same period, using a computer-based matched comparison, a second identical group of patients was selected according to the 11 risk variables and the number with coronary disease, so that complete preoperative matching included the year of operation, score index and coronary target. Moreover, among seven other preoperative variables that were not included in the matching comparison, the two groups differed only in mean age (64 +/- 10.9 vs 61.6 +/- 7.3 in groups off and on-pump, respectively, p < 0.05). Postoperative outcome and complications and blood requirement were compared. Myocardial cell injury and left ventricular performance were also assessed in the two groups.

The global incidence of neurologic complications in the off-pump group was significantly lower (9.8 vs 0%, in on and off-pump groups, respectively; p = 0.02). Patients undergoing CABG off-pump required blood far less often (% of transfused patients: 26.7% for the patients with CPB and 11.2% for the patients without CPB; p = 0.032). Three patients from the on-pump group (4.2%) had a perioperative myocardial infarction (AMI), versus 0% of the off-pump cases (p = ns). Postoperative atrial fibrillation accounted for 14.1% in off-pump patients and 30.9% in on-pump patients (p = 0.027). One patient in both groups (1.4%) suffered from postoperative heart failure. Mean ventilation time and ICU stay did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, hospital discharge occurred earlier in the off-pump group (9.3 +/- 3 vs 12.6 +/- 8, p = 0.007). In-hospital death occurred in one case from the on-pump group (1.4%) versus 0% of patients operated off-pump. CPK-MB release in patients without perioperative AMI was significantly lower in off-pump patients 6 and 12 hours after the operation (36.6 +/- 17 IU/l vs 69.8 +/- 23 IU/l after 6 hours, p < 0.05; and 36.7 +/- 19 IU/l vs 67.3 +/- 26 IU/l after 12 hours, p < 0.05, in off and on-pump groups, respectively) and LVSWI turned out to be better in off-pump patients 6 hours postoperatively (34.2 +/- 2 g*m/m2 vs 27.2 +/- 3 g*m/m2, p < 0.01).

CABG without CPB seems to be a promising technique for high-risk patients. It offers better neurologic and cardiac protection, shortens postoperative hospital stay and reduces the need for blood transfusion.