Concomitant off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting results in improved in-hospital outcomes for patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation undergoing surgery

Mitral valve surgery combined with on-pump versus off-pump myocardial revascularization: A prospective randomized analysis with midterm follow-up

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to compare results off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) combined mitral valve reconstruction (MVR) with standard on-pump approach.

METHODS

From January 2014 to December 2017, a total of 53 patients received a combined myocardial revascularization and MVR for multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) complicated by severe ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). All the subjects were divided into two groups: group I: 27 patients, received OPCAB + MVR, and group II (control group): 26 patients with on-pump myocardial revascularization (ONCAB) + MVR.

RESULTS

The aortic cross-clamp (ACC) and cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) times were longer in group II, 47.0 (44.0; 55.0) vs 94.5 (89.75; 105.5) minutes, P < .05 and 70.0 (63.0; 77.0) vs 138.5 (127.0; 157.5) minutes, P < .05, respectively. Evaluation of major clinical events showed that the implementation of the off-pump stage of myocardial revascularization in patients with severe IMR did not lead to significant changes in the mortality and postoperative complications. Furthermore, its use did not affect the volume of blood loss and need for blood transfusion, the duration of mechanical ventilation, the need for inotropic therapy, as well as the duration of the patient's resuscitation and the total duration of hospitalization, with the one exception: the troponin-T level increase in the OPCAB + MVR group was less than in the ONCAB + MVR group.

CONCLUSION

OPCAB combined MVR in patients with CAD and severe IMR can be performed with shorter CPB and ACC times, and lower troponin-T level after surgery, without reducing the risk of surgical complications.

Short-term clinical outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Background

We retrospectively assessed the outcomes after coronary revascularization at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center when a strategy of assigning higher risk patients to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was employed.

Methods

Over a 5 year period all consecutive patients that underwent CABG at our VA Medical Center were assigned to a surgeon who either performs the CABG exclusively off-pump or to one who performed the CABG on-pump. The higher risk patients were assigned preferentially for off-pump revascularization. VASQIP (VA Hospitals Surgical Quality Improvement Program) data between 10/2007 and 12/2012 were retrospectively reviewed at our VA Medical Center and the short term outcomes were assessed.

Results

A total of 252 consecutive patients underwent off-pump CABG (n = 170) and on-pump CABG (n = 82). There were significantly more patients with low LVEF (<45 %; p = 0.008) and cerebrovascular disease in the off-pump group (p = 0.024). The number of patients smoking at the time of surgery was significantly higher in the off-pump group (p = 0.002) as well. The 30-day composite morbidity and mortality was 6 % for all CABG patients and significantly lower with off-pump vs. on-pump CABG (3.5 % vs. 11 %; p = 0.019). There were no conversions from off-pump to on-pump surgery.

Conclusions

A selective strategy to direct higher risk patients towards an off-pump revascularization yielded favorable outcomes in an unselected veteran population treated at a single VA Medical Center over a 5 year period.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: Misperceptions and misconceptions

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) continues to be one of the most commonly performed cardiac surgical procedures worldwide. Conventional CABG performed on cardiopulmonary bypass termed on-pump CABG is regarded as the gold standard. However, on-pump CABG results in several physiologic derangements including but not limited to thrombocytopenia, activation of complement factors, immune suppression, and inflammatory responses leading to organ dysfunction. Furthermore, manipulating an atherosclerotic ascending aorta during cannulation and cross-clamping can predispose to embolization and stroke risk. Recognition of these detrimental effects of on-pump CABG resulted in resurgence of off-pump CABG nearly two decades ago. Off-pump CABG since its resurgence has been a subject of intensive scrutiny and speculation. Despite numerous retrospective nonrandomized studies, prospective randomized trials, and meta-analyses validating the safety and efficacy of off-pump CABG, opponents of the technique have persistently demanded abandonment of off-pump CABG. Several misconceptions and misperceptions are used as an excuse for such demands. This review article examines published scientific evidence to evaluate these misperceptions and misconceptions about off-pump CABG.

Does grafting of the left anterior descending artery with the in situ right internal thoracic artery have an impact on late outcomes in the context of bilateral internal thoracic artery usage?

BACKGROUND

Despite their well-established advantages, bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA) are still largely underused. This is partly because of the technical complexities associated with the use of the right internal thoracic artery (RITA) to guarantee the universally accepted gold standard left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) graft. The use of the in situ RITA for LAD grafting is a less technically demanding strategy. The impact of this strategy on early and late outcomes is investigated in the context of BITA usage.

METHODS

Among 1667 patients undergoing first-time isolated coronary artery bypass grafting using BITA, in situ RITA for LAD grafting was used in 546 patients compared with in situ LITA to LAD in 1121 patients. Propensity score matching was carried out to investigate the impact of in situ RITA to LAD on early and late outcomes including mortality and need for repeat revascularization.

RESULTS

A total of 546 propensity matched pairs were available for comparison. In the propensity matched cohort, the mean follow-up time was 7.8±3.8 years. RITA to LAD did not increase the risk for late death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-1.26), the need for repeat revascularization (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70-2.42), and the composite of death or repeat revascularization (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.64-1.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Using in situ BITA with retrosternal in situ RITA for LAD grafting is a technically less demanding, safe, and effective strategy that can increase usage of BITA by avoiding a composite graft configuration or technically challenging retrocaval routing of in situ RITA through the transverse sinus.