Complete revascularization of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction using mini extracorporeal circulation

Abstract

Background and aim Mini extracorporeal circulation (MECC) when used as on-pump beating cardiac support during coronary artery bypass grafting can be a better alternative than the conventional cardiopulmonary bypass with aortic cross-clamping and cardioplegic arrest [(conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (cCPB)] in complete revascularization of patients with ejection fraction (EF) Patients and methods A retrospective study was conducted on consecutive 50 patients with chronic stable severely impaired EF ( Results There was no difference in CPB time, perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) or mortality between the two groups. Defibrillation was required in 10% in group I and in 82% in group II, with significantly lower cumulative energy of defibrillation (joules) (P Conclusion On-pump beating heart revascularization of low EF patients using MECC is a safe procedure with better outcome than cCPB in low EF patients. It is followed by a diminished release of ischaemia markers, better early and smooth postoperative course and lower total hospitalization time than after cCPB, and both result in a satisfactory clinical outcome.