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Pre-operative balloon counterpulsation and off-pump coronary surgery for high-risk patients

G Babatasi1, M Massetti, P G Bruno

  • 1Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Avenue Côte de Nacre, CHU Caen 14033 Caen, France. babatasi-g@chu-caen.fr

Cardiovascular Surgery (London, England)
|March 29, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use may enable safer off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) in high-risk patients. This approach showed reduced mortality and morbidity without compromising graft patency.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Procedures
  • Mechanical Circulatory Support

Background:

  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be performed off-pump (OPCABG) using minimally invasive techniques.
  • Multivessel OPCABG presents challenges in high-risk patients with critical left main stenosis or severe ventricular dysfunction.
  • Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a potential tool to stabilize high-risk patients undergoing OPCABG.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use in high-risk patients undergoing multivessel off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).
  • To assess the safety and outcomes of OPCABG with preoperative IABP support compared to on-pump procedures.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study of 23 high-risk OPCABG patients treated with preoperative IABP versus 15 on-pump patients with similar criteria.
  • Data collected over a 10-month period.
  • Post-operative angiography to assess graft patency.

Main Results:

  • Preoperative IABP use was significantly higher in the OPCABG group (70% vs. 46%).
  • No conversions to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were needed in the OPCABG group, with 97.5% anastomosis patency.
  • The OPCABG group showed a trend towards reduced morbidity (atrial fibrillation, reexploration for bleeding, prolonged ventilation) and significantly lower mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Preoperative IABP may facilitate safe OPCABG in high-risk patients, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality.
  • Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of elective IABP in this patient population.
  • The findings suggest preoperative IABP use is warranted for a significant proportion of high-risk OPCABG candidates.
Abstract

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