The use of off pump surgery for management of penetrating coronary artery injury.

Abstract

Penetrating trauma to the chest leading to coronary artery injury is associated with a high mortality rate, especially in the case of injury to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The mortality rate remains high whether they are managed with primary ligation or with coronary artery bypass grafting using conventional cardiopulmonary bypass techniques. We report a case of proximal LAD coronary artery injury successfully treated with off pump coronary revascularisation.