Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Surgical Porcine Model of Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Treated by Exosome-laden Collagen Patch and Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
05:25

Surgical Porcine Model of Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Treated by Exosome-laden Collagen Patch and Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Published on: September 15, 2023

ECG changes after CABG: the role of the surgical technique

Giuseppe Crescenzi1, Anna Mara Scandroglio, Federico Pappalardo

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Anesthesia, San Raffele Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. crescenzi.giuseppe@hsr.it

Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
|February 20, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the beating heart (BH) does not reduce R-wave potentials on ECGs. However, the BH technique shows lower myocardial damage markers compared to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Electrocardiography

Background:

  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been associated with a reduction in R-wave potentials on precordial leads.
  • The beating heart (BH) technique for CABG aims to minimize invasiveness and potential complications.
  • Understanding the electrocardiographic (ECG) and biochemical markers post-CABG is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if CABG performed on the beating heart (BH) is associated with a reduction in R-wave potentials on the surface ECG.
  • To compare these ECG findings with those observed in CABG using CPB.
  • To evaluate myocardial cell damage markers in both surgical groups.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-four patients undergoing CABG (BH technique) were analyzed.
  • ECGs were recorded at specific postoperative intervals; myocardial cell damage biomarkers (CK-MB, cTnI) were measured.
  • A control group of 31 patients undergoing mitral valve repair (CPB) was included for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Patients undergoing BH-CABG showed no decrease in R-wave amplitude postoperatively.
  • Patients undergoing CPB (for CABG or mitral repair) exhibited similar R-wave reduction patterns.
  • BH-CABG patients had significantly lower release of myocardial necrosis markers compared to CPB patients, though no direct ECG-biomarker correlation was found.

Conclusions:

  • CABG surgery on the beating heart (BH) does not lead to a reduction in R-wave amplitude on precordial leads.
  • The BH technique is associated with a lower release of myocardial cell damage markers.
  • These findings differentiate the ECG profile of BH-CABG from CPB-assisted procedures.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Confirmation of Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Mice Using Surface Pad Electrocardiography09:23

Confirmation of Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Mice Using Surface Pad Electrocardiography

Published on: November 24, 2016

Real-Time Cardiac Mapping with a Noninvasive Imageless Electrocardiographic Imaging System10:17

Real-Time Cardiac Mapping with a Noninvasive Imageless Electrocardiographic Imaging System

Published on: April 11, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management01:28

Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...
Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview01:28

Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview

Cardiac catheterization is an invasive diagnostic technique used to identify and evaluate structural and functional diseases of the heart and major blood vessels. This technique diagnoses congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and coronary spasms and assesses ventricular function. It helps guide treatment decisions, including the need for revascularization procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and...
Electrocardiogram01:29

Electrocardiogram

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a critical diagnostic tool that records the electrical signals produced by the heart during each heartbeat. This recording is achieved through electrodes placed strategically on the arms, legs, and chest. The electrocardiograph amplifies these signals and produces 12 distinct tracings, offering a comprehensive understanding of the heart's electrical activity.
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization01:24

Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization

Left heart catheterization is an invasive diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the function and structure of the left side of the heart. It is generally performed to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions such as valve abnormalities, coronary artery disease, and congenital heart defects.Diagnostic and therapeutic purposesLeft heart catheterization serves various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including:Assessing coronary artery bypass grafts.Evaluating coronary artery disease in...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
Correlation between ECG and Cardiac Cycle01:25

Correlation between ECG and Cardiac Cycle

The electrical signals recorded on an electrocardiogram (ECG) occur before the mechanical processes of contraction and relaxation during the cardiac cycle.
A cardiac action potential originates in the SA node and spreads throughout the atria and the AV node in approximately 0.03 seconds. This results in the P wave in an ECG and triggers atrial contraction. The action potential is then briefly slowed at the AV node, allowing the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before...