Coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass

In off-pump coronary artery grafting, cardiopulmonary bypass and its associated maneuvers, i.e., aortic manipulation and global cardiac arrest, may be avoided, and thus its morbidity and mortality may be reduced. Modern tissue stabilizers allow accurate construction of anastomosis and are now considered indispensable. Currently, there are two groups of stabilizers, i.e., those based on suction-fixation and those based on pressure-fixation. Each has specific applications. The popularity of off-pump coronary bypass surgery is increasing, from the patient's perspective and from the perspective of cost containment. Proper patient selection is crucial. The procedure is technically demanding. It is expected that by the year 2000 10% of coronary surgery will be off-pump, particularly by direct vision techniques. From the currently available, nonrandomized, prospective studies, the preliminary conclusion seems justified that, in selected patients, off-pump bypass grafting is as accurate as conventional bypass grafting, with lower morbidity and mortality. This includes fast recovery and early resumption of premorbid activities in most patients. Particularly, therefore, the procedure is also cost saving. Prospective randomized studies are necessary to quantify these statements.