On-pump versus off-pump surgical revascularization for left main stem stenosis: risk adjusted outcomes

Recent publications have shown coronary surgery is safe and effective in patients with critical left main stem stenosis when using off-pump coronary surgery techniques. However, these studies were small and did not adjust for differences in case mix.

Between April 1997 and March 2003, 1,197 consecutive patients with critical left main stem stenosis (> 50%) underwent coronary surgery. Two hundred and fifty-nine (21.6%) of these patients had off-pump coronary surgery, while 938 (78.4%) received on-pump coronary surgery. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to assess the effect of off-pump coronary surgery on outcomes, while adjusting for patient characteristics (treatment selection bias). Treatment selection bias was controlled by constructing a propensity score from core patient characteristics. The propensity score was the probability of receiving off-pump coronary surgery and was included along with the comparison variable in the multivariable analyses of outcome.

After adjusting for the propensity score, the requirement for inotropic support (22.4% versus 35.3%; p < 0.001) or a prolonged length of stay (5.3% versus 9.3%; p = 0.034) were significantly reduced after receiving off-pump coronary surgery. There was a trend to suggest that off-pump patients had a lower incidence of stroke and chest infection. The adjusted freedom from death in off-pump patients at 2 years was 94.6% compared with 93.6% for on-pump patients (p = 0.54).

After risk adjustment, patients with critical left main stem stenosis can undergo off-pump coronary surgery safely, with results comparable with on-pump coronary surgery.