[Bypass surgery on beating heart without heart-lung machine. A new technique revitalises an old method]

Recently, new methodology entailing limited anterior thoracotomy or median sternotomy has rendered coronary surgery on the beating heart without extracorporeal circulation safe. Since a program for CABG on beating heart was initiated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital three years ago, 350 operations have been performed, 287 via sternotomy and 63 via limited thoracotomy. Mortality was 1.4% while graft patency in the first 84 patients was 94%. About 20% of all CABG's are performed on a beating heart, and signs are that this percentage is on the rise.