Why Is "Off-Pump" Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Better?

(#2001-13390)

Enio Buffolo, MD, PhD

Department of Surgery, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The objective of this contribution is to review the results of operations we have performed upon patients using the offpump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) technique. The OPCAB technique was examined as a cause of death in 2495 cases from September 1981 to September 1999. Our results indicated four deaths due to stroke and a total hospital mortality of 1.9% (48/2495).

When myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is appropriately chosen, it is a treatment to be highly recommended for patients with coronary insufficiency.