[Simultaneous carotid and coronary surgery without use of extracorporeal circulation--personal experience]

There is still a dilemma about best treatment option for patients with severe carotid and coronary artery disease. Reviving of beating heart revascularization technique and using of carotid stenting makes things even more difficult. Discussion about this subject is getting more and more profound. This is analysis of our initial experience with simultaneous carotid and off pump coronary procedures.

This is retrospective analysis of 18 patients operated using this technique in a period from 2001-2003 yrs. Follow up was done by telephone interview. For survivors specially designed questionaire was fulfilled.

We operated total number of 18 patients with average age 60,6+/-9.32 years. Carotid recontruction was performed by eversion technique in all patients. Average number of coronary grafts was 2,67+/-0.88. During postoperative period 1 patient (5.55%) had verified perioperative infarction and 1 patient (5.55%) suffered from stroke. Average number of days in hospital was 9.95+/-4.74. During follow up period of 21 months two more patients died from cardiovascular causes. There was no need for repeat coronary angiogram or reintervention on carotid or coronary arteries.

Simultaneous carotid and coronary operation performed on beating heart is safe and efficent method of treatment for patients with severe concomitant carotid and coronary artery disease.