Results of coronary bypass grafting in treatment of left main stenosis

Study comparing the results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with and without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in the treatment of left main stenosis (LMS) has not yet been made in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main aim of this study was to compare result of CABG performed on 176 patients, in Cardiovacular clinic of University Clinical Center in Tuzla from May 1999 to January 2005, by these two methods in LMS group of patients in the early and late postoperative period. The study was divided in two parts. In the first part, early postoperative period (30 days after the surgery) has been analysed, which encompasses results of CABG in 92 patients revascularisied without CPB (OPCAB) method (Group A), and 84 patients with LMS revascularisied with CPB method (ONCAB, CCAB) (Group B). In the second part, late postoperative period (one year after surgery) has been analysed. Patients from both groups were contacted and interviewed. Total number (276 versus 278), same as average number of grafts per patients (3.0 +/- 1.45 versus 3.31 +/- 0.86 p = 0.096), was insignificantly higher in group B. Perioperative and postoperative results revealed significant differences between two groups in reduced mechanical ventilation time (2.9 versus 7.3 hours, p = 0.039), less blood transfusion requirement (200.3 versus 419.9 ml, p = 0.035) and postoperative length of stay (7.4 versus 8.3 days). Inotrop support requirement was significantly higher in group B during the surgery (14.1% versus 29.8%, p = 0.019) and postoperative period longer than 12 hours (7.6 versus 22.6%; p = 0.009). Significant difference for mortality was noticed in early postoperative period in group A (0.0 versus 5.95%, p = 0.023). There was no significant difference for any of additional procedures (7.9 versus 7.8, p = 0.802), for major complications (8.0 versus 9.1%; p = 0.985) or for mortality (7.9 versus 5.2%; p = 0.692). Patients' survival after CABG for period of 12, 24, 36 and 48 months after surgery was not statistically significant (97.0 versus 96.1%, p = 0.802; 95.5 versus 96.1%, p = 0.857; 93.2 versus 94.8%, p = 0.913; 92.0 versus 94.8%, p = 0.692). This study revealed that OPCAB is effective and safe method for treatment of LMS, and there are certain advantages in comparison to classical method in short-term follow up, with no difference in long-term results.