• C Detter, H Reichenspurner, D H Boehm, M Thalhammer, A Schütz, and B Reichart.
• Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81366 Munich, Germany. cdetter@hch.med.uni-muenchen.de
• Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001 Apr 1; 19 (4): 464-70.

ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the best surgical approach in off-pump single vessel revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD).MethodsIn 256 patients a single left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to LAD bypass was performed with beating heart techniques through a left anterior minithoracotomy (minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), n=129) or a full sternotomy (off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), n=127).ResultsIn the OPCAB group, significantly more severe comorbidities (P=0.001) and redo-operations were noted (P<0.001). Conversion to sternotomy or CPB was necessary in five MIDCAB patients and one OPCAB patient. No cerebrovascular accident was seen in both groups. There was no hospital death in MIDCAB- and two deaths in OPCAB procedures (P=ns). There was a significant reduction in time of surgery (P=0.028) and coronary occlusion (P=0.009) in the OPCAB group. No differences in postoperative ventilation time, ICU stay and length of hospital stay were recorded between groups. Wound infections occurred in six MIDCAB patients (4.7%) and one OPCAB patient (0.8%). Early postoperative reoperation due to graft failure was necessary in three patients after MIDCAB and two patients after OPCAB (P=ns). Confirmed by angiography, the early graft patency rate was 96 and 98%, respectively (P=ns).ConclusionsBoth beating heart techniques showed good results with low hospital mortality, low early complications and comparable angiographic results. Nevertheless, MIDCAB is a challenging technique as demonstrated by the longer times of surgery and coronary occlusion with a tendency towards a higher risk of conversion and wound infection. Thus, this technique should only be performed in selected patients with favourable coronary anatomy. Through a sternotomy approach, single vessel revascularization can be performed safely off-pump even in high-risk patients.

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