OFF-PUMP CORONARY ARTERY REVASCULARISATION TREND IN KARACHI: A LOCAL SURVEY

Abstract

Purpose and Setting: A survey of local cardiac surgeons was carried out to know their views about off-pump coronary bypass surgery(OPCAB). Methods: A questionnaire was developed and all the local cardiac surgeons, who were either consultants or in waiting, were approached and requested to provide required information. This information was accepted as it was and tabulated to see the trend Results: Twenty one surgeons were approached. Nineteen surgeons were involved in coronary bypass surgery. OPCAB was performed by all with a varying frequency. Majority of surgeons felt that OPCAB was more difficult and the anastomosis not as accurate. They however felt that the procedure was beneficial for high risk patients. It was almost unanimous that off-pump technique was difficult to pass on to the trainees Conclusion: OPCAB was performed by all the cardiac surgeons, doing coronary surgery, in Karachi. The practice is however not regular. This probably is due to not availability of avenues for CME locally. This would discourage surgeons to pass on the skill to the trainees and the interest may dwindle completely in future.