[Coronary bypass surgery without heart-lung-machine. First experiences and results after two years]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Cardiac Procedures

Background:

• Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery offers an alternative to conventional cardiopulmonary bypass techniques.
• Evaluating long-term outcomes and patient recovery is crucial for adopting new surgical methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present two-year results and experiences with off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery.
• To assess the safety, efficacy, and patient recovery following OPCAB procedures, particularly in high-risk individuals.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 95 patients undergoing OPCAB surgery over two years.
• Inclusion of 24 high-risk patients with unstable angina, comorbidities, or contraindications to conventional bypass.
• Assessment of perioperative course, in-hospital outcomes, and 3-month follow-up for anginal symptoms.

Main Results:

• Low morbidity and ultra-fast track recovery observed in the majority of patients.
• Minimal detectable coronary enzyme release, no reoperations for bleeding, and early hospital discharge.
• Two in-hospital deaths occurred in the high-risk group; 86% of patients were symptom-free at 3 months.

Conclusions:

• OPCAB surgery demonstrates favorable outcomes, including reduced complications and excellent symptom relief.
• The procedure is safe and effective, even for high-risk patients, supporting its increasing adoption.
• Positive experiences lead to a growing utilization of OPCAB, now representing 25% of CABG procedures.