Early outcome after off-pump versus on-pump coronary bypass surgery: results from a randomized study

D van Dijk1, A P Nierich, E W Jansen

  • 1University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Anesthesiology, the Julius Center for Patient Oriented Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Circulation
|October 10, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is safe and offers similar short-term cardiac outcomes compared to on-pump CABG. This approach may reduce the need for blood transfusions and shorten hospital stays.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Procedures

Background:

  • Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) traditionally uses cardiopulmonary bypass, associated with significant morbidity.
  • Off-pump CABG, facilitated by cardiac stabilizers, offers an alternative but its comparative cardiac outcomes were unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the cardiac outcomes of off-pump CABG versus on-pump CABG.
  • To evaluate in-hospital results, cardiac outcomes, and quality of life after 1 month.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter trial randomized 281 patients to either off-pump or on-pump CABG.
  • Cardiac outcome was defined as survival free of stroke, myocardial infarction, and coronary reintervention.
  • Data collected included blood product usage, enzyme release, complications, length of stay, and quality of life.

Main Results:

  • Completeness of revascularization was similar between groups.
  • Off-pump CABG required fewer blood products (3% vs 13%) and showed less creatine kinase release.
  • No significant differences in major complications, 1-month mortality, or quality of life were observed; cardiovascular event-free survival was comparable (93.0% vs 94.2%).

Conclusions:

  • Off-pump CABG is a safe alternative for selected patients.
  • Short-term cardiac outcomes after off-pump CABG are comparable to on-pump procedures.
  • Off-pump CABG may offer benefits such as reduced blood product use and shorter hospital stays.
Abstract