Comparison of the early results of coronary artery bypass grafting with and without extracorporeal circulation

To compare the safety and efficacy of coronary artery bypass grafting without using extracorporeal circulation with standard cardiopulmonary bypass technique, based on certain early postoperative criteria, we designed a fully randomized and prospective study on two groups of 25 patients (off-pump and on-pump groups). The groups were compared for hemodynamic data (cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, left- and right-ventricular stroke-work indices, inotropic and mechanical support needs) and enzyme levels (CK-MB and SGOT), as well as mortality perioperative infarction rate, homologous transfusion requirements, and the symptomatology in the first follow-ups. There was no mortality or perioperative myocardial infarction in either group. Inotropic (25% vs. 4%) and mechanical (4% vs. 0) support requirements and homologous blood consumption (percentages of patients that needed no transfusion: 20% vs. 72%) were greater in the on-pump group. Results were otherwise similar. It is concluded that, in technically suitable cases, off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is as safe and efficient as the standard on-pump technique and can be used in particular when cannulation, hypothermia, or cardiopulmonary bypass must be avoided. With these properties, this technique could take an important place in the cardiac surgeon's armamentarium.