On-pump Procedures Research Articles

A Comparison of Cardiac Surgeon’s Stress Level During Off- Pump and On-Pump CABG by Cardiac Variability Indices, A Case-Report

Background: There is still controversy regarding the benefits of off-pump CABG and the stress that these procedures impose on the cardiac surgeon has not been previously studied. We sought to investigate whether off-pump operations are more demanding for the cardiac surgeon compared to the on-pump by evaluating the stress level by the cardiac variability indices. Methods: The heart rate variability indices, including the low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF), as well as heart rate (HR) were recorded throughout 17 on-pump and 16 offpump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations for an experienced cardiac surgeon. The operations were divided into six phases to indicate the most important surgical moments, which were subsequently compared between the two types of procedures. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (P-value<0.0001) in the surgical phases in terms of the LF, HF, LF/HF ratio, and HR. The HF, LF/HF and HR were also statistically significantly different with respect to the two types of surgeries (P-value < 0.01). The LF, however, did not show a statistically significant difference (P-value = 0. 485). The LF/HF in the off-pump CABGs showed a significant increase during posterior distal anastomosis and it thereafter declined gradually to its base level by the time of proximal anastomosis. The LF/HF in the on-pump CABGs showed an increase at the time of cannulation and cardiopulmonary bypass and it decreased afterwards to its base level by the time of posterior distal anastomosis and remained almost constant until the end of the operation. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the stress level of the surgeon is higher when performing off-pump operations compared to on-pump procedures; this was manifested by the difference in the heart rate variability indices.

Current Practice and Outcomes of Off-pump Multivessel Coronary Artery Bypass

Outcomes of off-pump multivessel coronary artery bypass were compared with those of the on-pump procedure. From July 2001 to June 2006, 3,637 patients with multivessel coronary disease underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass, and 3,586 patients had on-pump coronary artery bypass in our center. The rates of operative mortality, permanent stroke, renal failure and perioperative myocardial infarction were significantly lower in the off-pump group, and these patients required fewer blood transfusions, shorter durations of ventilatory support, and shorter hospital stays. However, the patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass were considered more high-risk and tended to have more complex procedures.

Preoperative anemia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting predicts acute kidney injury

Recent authoritative studies suggested that low preoperative hemoglobin concentration may affect cardiac surgery outcomes. This study aimed, primarily, to investigate whether preoperative anemia is an independent determinant of adverse events after coronary artery bypass grafting and, secondarily, to evaluate the potential dose responsiveness between anemia severity and primary end points. This single-center prospective study investigated 1214 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2004 and June 2007, collecting 100 variables per patient. In 1047 patients (median age 64 years, 18.8% female, 38.9% diabetic, 31.9% urgent/emergency, 15.3% with low preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction) who underwent on-pump procedures and received no preoperative transfusion, the prevalence of preoperative anemia (according to World Health Organization definition) and its unadjusted and adjusted relationships with in-hospital death, cardiac morbidity, and acute kidney injury (AKI-RIFLE [Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-stage kidney disease] criteria) were obtained. The prevalence of preoperative anemia was 28%. In-hospital death averaged 3.9%, cardiac morbidity 7.3%, and acute kidney injury 4%. Unadjusted odds ratios (Ors) for in-hospital death, cardiac morbidity, and acute kidney injury were 3.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0-7.3), 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.8), and 4.0 (95% CI 2.1-7.6), respectively. Adjusting for anemia in confounders proved an independent predictor of acute kidney injury (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.14-3.70), whereas the cardiac morbidity and in-hospital mortality were independently predicted by kidney function. No dose-response relationship emerged between anemia severity and acute kidney injury. Preoperative anemia is independently associated with acute kidney injury after coronary artery bypass grafting. Further studies are warranted to determine whether preoperative low hemoglobin concentration is a marker of severity of illness or a modifiable risk factor.

Isolated Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection of the Left Lung

Isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) of the entire left lung is a rare congenital anomaly with incidental diagnosis and vague symptoms, if any, until late adulthood. If left untreated, PAPVC may result in severe right ventricular failure and pulmonary vascular disease. We present the case of a 34-year-old woman with isolated PAPVC of the entire left lung. The patient underwent operation with a side-to-side left atrio-vertical vein anastomosis while on cardiopulmonary bypass and under cardioplegic arrest. She was discharged without complications and with a gradient of 2 mm Hg across the anastomosis. Left-sided PAPVC can be repaired with minimal morbidity and mortality. Surgical correction is warranted when patients are symptomatic or show evidence of right-sided overload due to unpredictability of the natural course. Recent data demonstrate that both on-pump and off-pump surgical procedures produce excellent long-term outcomes when performed without persisting gradients.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass for Emergency Myocardial Revascularization

Emergency coronary artery bypass is associated with increased operative mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of off-pump emergency coronary artery bypass, and to compare the outcome with that of the conventional on-pump procedure. Data of 79 patients who underwent emergency isolated coronary artery bypass were reviewed retrospectively; 45 had off-pump coronary bypass and 34 had conventional surgery. In the off-pump group, mean ejection fraction was significantly lower (28% +/- 9% vs. 39% +/- 10%), and there were fewer grafts per patient (1.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 3.2 +/- 0.8). Early mortality was higher in the conventional surgery group (14.7% vs. 8.9%), but late mortality was similar in both groups. Patients who had on-pump surgery had lower rates of recurrent angina (16% vs. 34%) and symptoms of heart failure (20% vs. 51%). Re-hospitalization was more common in off-pump patients, but cardiac re-interventions were similar. There was no significant difference in 5-year survival rates. The results of off-pump coronary bypass were better than the preoperative predicted EuroSCORE, thus it was concluded that patients treated on an emergency basis should have an off-pump revascularization procedure.

Preferential Use of “Off Pump” Glenn Shunts: A Single-Center Experience

Objective. The objective of this study was to provide a descriptive comparison of a single institution's experience with preferential Glenn shunts performed with and without cardiopulmonary bypass. Introduction. For single ventricle heart diseases, the bidirectional superior cavopulmonary shunt serves as an effective palliation. It has been the preference at our institution to perform Glenn shunts without cardiopulmonary bypass whenever possible. We compared results of Glenn procedures carried out with and without cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods. All patients who received Glenn shunts at our institution between January 2000 and July 2007 were reviewed. During this time period, Glenn shunts were performed without cardiopulmonary bypass in all cases in which side clamping of the pulmonary artery was tolerated. “Off pump” Glenn shunts were performed using a temporary superior vena cava to right atrium shunt. Results. Sixty-five patients received bidirectional Glenn shunts during the study period. Thirty-five were performed off cardiopulmonary bypass. Thirteen patients received bilateral bidirectional Glenn shunts, six of which were performed off pump. There was one patient who did not tolerate the off-pump Glenn shunt and was converted to the on-pump procedure. There was no significant difference in postoperative success as determined by measurements of pressure gradients across the anastomoses, length of intensive care unit stay, intubation time, length of hospital stay, and 30-day mortality. There were no cases of intraoperative mortality in either group. Conclusion. The bidirectional Glenn shunt can be performed safely without cardiopulmonary bypass in the majority of cases. Cardiopulmonary bypass is indicated when clamping of the pulmonary arteries is not tolerated.

Octogenarians Tolerate Heart Surgery Well

Octogenarians Tolerate Heart Surgery Well

On Vs Off: Perceptions of Four Patients' Experiences of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

The benefits of Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass surgery (OPCAB) are well documented, but little information is available that explores the patient's perception of the experience. The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in perceptions and experiences in patients who have undergone both OPCAB and on-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting procedures. Guided by naturalistic inquiry, semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted and audio taped with 4 men living independently. Inductive analysis of the transcripts revealed 7 themes: general comparisons, health care seeking symptoms, loss of control, faith and trust, postoperative depression, interactions with health care professionals, and sharing the life-time experience. The findings from this study will help to guide future research in the area of cardiovascular surgery.

A study design to assess the safety and efficacy of on-pump versus off-pump coronary bypass grafting: the ROOBY trial

Since the late 1960s, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG-only) procedures were traditionally performed using a heart-lung machine on an arrested heart (on-pump). Over the past decade, an increasing number CABG-only procedures were performed on a beating heart (off-pump). Advocates of the off-pump approach expect to reduce many of the adverse side effects related to using the heart-lung machine, while advocates for the on-pump procedure raise concerns related to graft patency rates and long-term event-free survival for the off-pump technique. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Cooperative Studies Program funded a randomized, multicenter clinical trial comparing the clinical and resource-related outcomes following on-pump versus off-pump techniques for veterans undergoing a non-emergent CABG-only procedure. The planning committee was faced with several critically important challenges to assure feasibility of study costs and required sample size; generalizability to non-VA surgical practices; and comparability of clinically meaningful results. These challenges are discussed. This study is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, single blinded (patient) clinical trial that compares on-pump and off-pump techniques for veterans requiring non-emergent CABG-only procedures. There will be 2200 patients randomized at 17 VA Medical Centers when the five-year recruitment period ends on 15 April 2007. There are two primary objectives: a short-term objective to assess the immediate impact of the two techniques on 30-day mortality/morbidity and a long-term objective to assess one-year mortality/morbidity. Major secondary outcomes are one-year graft patency rates and change in neuropsychological assessments from baseline to one year. All patients are assessed at 30 days post-surgery or discharge from the hospital, whichever is latest, and at one-year post-surgery. During planning, several key issues had to be decided. These included 1) choosing primary objectives: a short-term (30-day) and a long-term (one-year) objective were chosen; 2) choosing primary outcome measures: composite measures were selected to ensure sufficient end-points; 3) standardization of surgical techniques: minimal standardization required but guidelines and continuing discussions on both techniques provided; 4) establishing criteria for surgeons and residents for participation: surgeons required to have completed 20 off-pump procedures prior to doing study procedures and residents, in presence of study surgeon, capable of doing either procedure; 5) identifying metrics of cognitive dysfunction sensitive to treatment: a neuropshychologist hired who centrally monitors cognitive functioning testing; and 6) blinding participants of surgical procedure: attempt to blind participants. Areas of concern are whether all surgeons sufficiently experienced on the off-pump procedure, should residents have been allowed to do study surgeries, should techniques have been standardized more and were the best neurocognitive tests selected. The study design presented allows for a balanced and fair assessment of the on-pump and off-pump CABG procedures across a diversity of clinical outcomes and resource use metrics. Its results have the potential to influence clinical cardiac surgical practice in the future.

Analysis of the myocardial metabolism by microdialysis during open beating heart surgery

Objectives. Microdialysis allows the in vivo biochemical analysis of interstitial fluids. Our aim was to reveal in vivo reliable data of the myocardium during open beating heart surgery. Design. In ten patients undergoing routine beating coronary artery bypass grafting a microdialysis catheter was inserted into the left ventricle. Measurements were performed up to 45 min after anastomosis. Data were retrospectively compared with standard on-pump procedures. Results. The myocardial lactate remained stable during anastomosis, followed by a significant decrease of lactate after revascularisation. Myocardial glucose levels showed a slight decrease, followed by a significant increase after revascularisation. Myocardial purines showed a slight increase during anastomosis, followed by a sharp decrease during reperfusion period. Conclusions. In contrast to on-pump procedures myocardial lactate and purines showed less increasing trend during the ischemic period, while myocardial glucose remained stable as a sign of preserved tissue blood flow. Myocardial microdialysis showed different values compared to the elective on-pump CABG and previous animal studies. This technique allows bedside monitoring of biochemical changes, suggesting its possible role as a clinical monitoring tool.

Brain magnetic resonance angiography-based strategy for stroke reduction in coronary artery bypass grafting

We have been using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) preoperatively to identify patients at increased risk of stroke in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Based upon the intracranial MRA findings, either the off-pump or the on-pump procedure was selected. We report the results of our MRA-based strategy of CABG in 140 consecutive patients. Intracranial arterial lesions were found in 90 patients (64%). The most affected arteries were internal carotid (48%), followed by vertebral (18%) and middle cerebral (16%). Using the MRA score describing the severity of intracranial atherosclerosis, 35 patients with a score of > or = 5 underwent off-pump, while 105 patients with a score of < 5 underwent on-pump CABG. In the off-pump group, the patient age was older, the incidence of abnormal preoperative brain CT was higher, and the MRA score was higher (6.0+/-1.1 vs. 1.2+/-1.3 points) than in the on-pump groups. Even though the risk was higher in the off-pump group, the clinical outcomes were not significantly different, including the hospital mortality and the incidence of stroke and additional coronary intervention. In conclusion, the brain MRA-based selection of off-pump CABG can contribute to prevention of stroke in neurologically high-risk patients.

Clinical Outcomes of Low-Risk Patients Undergoing Beating-Heart Surgery With or Without Pulmonary Artery Catheterization

For patients who undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery, pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) has been proposed as a useful intraoperative monitoring tool. This study was designed to determine if the choice of PAC versus central venous pressure monitoring (CVP) had any effect on outcome after OPCAB. This study compared these 2 methods of hemodynamic monitoring in low-risk patients undergoing beating-heart surgery via a median sternotomy and evaluated their effect on morbidity and in-hospital mortality. Retrospective database and medical record review. Tertiary care teaching hospital. Low-risk patients who had coronary revascularization via a median sternotomy on the beating heart. None. A population of 2,414 low-risk patients who had beating-heart coronary revascularization between January 2000 and December 2003 was reviewed. Most patients (1,671 or 69.2%) received a PAC, whereas 743 (30.8%) had CVP monitoring. Risk-adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the effect of each technique on clinical outcomes. The groups were comparable in both baseline characteristics and Parsonett's mortality risk (1.5 +/- 0.9, p = 0.58). Univariate analysis failed to show a difference in operative mortality (p = 0.76), on-pump conversion rate for completion of aortocoronary bypasses (p = 0.82), postoperative low cardiac output (p = 0.10), or prolonged inotropic agent use (p = 0.22). Similarly, in the multivariate analysis, both groups had a similar rate of conversion to an on-pump procedure for completion of coronary artery grafting (p = 0.91), intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump use (p = 0.69), low cardiac output state (p = 0.16), or in-hospital mortality (p = 0.51). This single-institution, retrospective study suggests that in low-risk patients undergoing beating-heart surgery, CVP monitoring may be sufficient.

Aborted Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Patients Have Much Worse Outcomes Than On-Pump or Successful Off-Pump Patients

Off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is purported to reduce perioperative mortality and morbidity compared with on-pump coronary bypass graft surgery. However, the outcomes of patients for whom an off-pump strategy must be changed to an on-pump procedure during surgery have not been extensively studied. The Merged Cardiac Registry (Health Data Research, Inc) contains 70 514 isolated CABG performed from January 1998 to March 2004 in 40 facilities. Among them, 62 634 patients begun and completed on-pump bypass (CPB); 7880 patients begun off-pump, of which 7424 (94.2%) completed off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), whereas 456 (5.8%) were converted to on-pump (CONVERT). CONVERT patients were more severely ill. The observed mortality of CONVERT, CPB, and OPCAB was 9.9%, 3.0%, and 1.6%, respectively, and the observed-to-predicted ratio was 2.77, 1.20, and 0.74, respectively. CONVERT also had more morbidity than either OPCAB or CPB. Finally, a risk model was created to identify patients who might be at risk for conversion from off-pump to on-pump CABG. Patients who are intended for an off-pump strategy and then require conversion to on-pump have significantly higher operative mortality and morbidity than either completed OPCAB or CPB patients. In addition, the operative mortality and morbidity are far in excess of that predicted preoperatively. Based on these results, strong consideration should be given for a planned strategy of CPB for those patients with preoperative hemodynamic instability requiring a salvage CABG operation, left ventricular hypertrophy, or previous CABG.

Jugular bulb desaturation during coronary artery surgery: a comparison of off-pump and on-pump procedures

Conventional coronary artery bypass surgery has been associated with cerebral injury attributed to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and surgical manipulation of the ascending aorta. Off-pump coronary artery surgery avoids these factors and could prevent cerebral injury. However, moving the heart from its natural position affects the circulation and could compromise cerebral oxygenation and perfusion. We set out to compare episodes of poor global cerebral oxygenation, defined as a jugular bulb saturation less than 50%, between patients randomized to off-pump or (conventional) on-pump coronary artery surgery. One hundred and eighty-seven patients were assigned randomly to off-pump or on-pump coronary artery surgery. Oxygen saturation in the jugular bulb (SjO2) was measured during revascularization of the three main coronary vessels in the off-pump group, and at the start of CPB, before rewarming, and after rewarming in the on-pump group. We compared samples with jugular bulb with desaturation (SjO2) < or = 50%) between treatment groups. One hundred and seventy-five patients (81 in the off-pump group [93%] and 94 in the on-pump group [94%]) had complete jugular oxygen saturation data. Thirty-nine patients in the off-pump group (48%) and 25 patients in the on-pump group (27%) had one or more samples with desaturation during revascularization or CPB (odds ratio after adjustment for other factors, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.73, P<0.01). Jugular bulb desaturation occurs more frequently during off-pump coronary artery surgery than during conventional coronary artery surgery.

Should Standard On-Pump Protamine Dosing Formulas Be Recalculated for Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?

Abstract Background: Since 1994 at the authors' institution, approximately 9000 cardiac surgical procedures were performed using activated clotting time (ACT)-monitored heparin anticoagulation for cardiopulmonary bypass and protamine administration calculated from a standard unchanged formula. This formula incorporates physiologic consequences of bypass pump-induced dilutional coagulopathy, platelet dysfunction, and coagulation/fibrinolytic cascade component activation, and thus may overcorrect in a subset of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) patients who may in fact manifest a relative perioperative hypercoagulability state. This study evaluated a strategy of decreased protamine dosing in OPCAB. Methods: Eighty consecutive OPCAB patients who underwent surgery performed by a single surgeon at a single institution over a 12-month period were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent a mean of 2.91 +/- 0.1 OPCAB grafts with full heparinization and 50% of the calculated protamine dose was administered. ACT, partial thromboplastin times, thoracostomy tube outputs, transfusions, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Results: Of 80 patients, 76 (95%) returned to baseline ACT values with 50% protamine dosing. All patients demonstrated intraoperative clinical evidence of hemostasis. Mean 8- and 24-hour thoracostomy tube outputs were 424 +/- 24 mL and 806 +/- 38 mL, respectively. A mean of 1.7 +/- 0.2 packed red blood cell transfusions/patient was administered. There were no transfusions of platelets, fresh frozen plasma, or cryoprecipitate; no reexplorations; and no mortalities. Patients were discharged a mean of 4.4 +/- 0.1 days postoperatively. Conclusion: A standard protamine dosing formula adequate for on-pump cardiac surgical procedures significantly overestimates protamine requirements for OPCAB. Patients treated with decreased protamine do not appear to have adverse outcomes.

Selective Use of Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery Reduces Mortality and Neurologic Morbidity Associated with High-Risk Coronary Bypass Surgery: A 400-Case Comparative Experience

The frequency of use of off-pump coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery to surgically treat coronary artery disease has varied greatly from center to center and from surgeon to surgeon because of preference, training, and experience. We report an experience with 400 consecutive isolated CAB procedures selectively managed with on-pump or off-pump surgery, according to the perceived potential for aortic embolization or stroke as determined by clinical and imaging determinations. The off-pump CAB group (46 patients) was 7.1 years older (P < .05) and had an 11% lower ejection fraction (P < .03) than the on-pump group. There was no difference in gender, urgency of surgery, hemodynamic stability, angina class, or incidence of prior myocardial infarction. All 400 patients underwent intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, and many underwent an epiaortic study to supplement image quality. Patients without palpable or imaged advanced aortic disease or deemed to be at clinically high risk for stroke (advanced age, prior strokes, or advanced cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease) underwent on-pump procedures requiring 55 minutes of aortic ischemia and 97 minutes of high-flow, high-pressure bypass on average. All others underwent off-pump procedures. The numbers of grafts per patient were similar (3.2 on-pump, 2.8 off-pump; = ns). There was no in-hospital or 30-day mortality in either group. Using the New York State risk-adjustment algorithm, we found the predicted mortality rate for the off-pump group was higher (2.24% on-pump versus 5.54% off-pump, P = .008). The postoperative length of stay was longer in the off-bypass group (3.67 days versus 4.31 days, P = .003). The frequencies of hospital readmission and perioperative complications (renal, pulmonary, infection, bleeding, cardiac, neurologic) were similar, and there were no postoperative strokes in either group. The selective use of off-pump surgery safely managed patients at higher risk for perioperative stroke and associated embolic multisystem organ failure and death. Individual surgeon and center-wide use of a selective approach is recommended as an alternative to a single-procedure nonselective approaches.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery has been adopted enthusiastically worldwide. However, despite more than 6 years' experience and refinement, many surgeons use it only sporadically and some hardly at all. This reluctance persists despite support for the procedure because of the lack of properly designed risk models and/or randomized studies. Although it has not been overwhelmingly shown that off-pump surgery is superior to the conventional on-pump procedure, the technique has its place in our specialty. It has been shown to be better for noncritical end points in selected patients in the hands of selected surgeons. That there are differences in surgical skill among surgeons is something we all know but rarely discuss in public. Until now, disparities in skill have been most salient with uncommon and extraordinarily challenging operations. Perhaps the off-pump procedure should be regarded as the "challenging" aspect of coronary artery bypass surgery, and self-restraint may need to remain in force if we are to continue to achieve the highest level of clinical excellence.

Leukocyte filtration and miniature perfusion during arrested heart CABG on a Jehovah’s Witness patient

Bloodless surgery and a reduction in the use of allogeneic blood products has long been the standard of care in medicine. Many individuals in our communities have demanded this form of surgical treatment for personal and religious reasons. On 6 December 2002, a 72-year-old male patient was admitted to our institution as a critical air flight transfer. The patient's height was 190.5 cm and weight was 59.3 kg (body surface area 1.83 m2). His preliminary diagnosis was chest pain with myocardial infarction as evidenced by elevated blood cardiac isoenzymes. His principle diagnosis was subendocardial infarction with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. Cardiac catheterization was performed and demonstrated severe triple vessel disease with an ejection fraction of 30%. He was evaluated and accepted as a candidate for coronary artery bypass grafting. Multidisciplinary consultation concluded that a safe and effective method of perioperative treatment would involve the use of arrested heart support with cold blood cardioplegia using a low prime miniature perfusion circuit as no blood products would be considered for use. Additionally, the combined modalities of perfusion interventions to minimize hemodilution consisted of intraoperative autologous blood collection totaling 500 mL and rapid autologous priming of the miniature perfusion circuit. The miniature perfusion system was a low prime Cardiovention (Santa Clara, CA) CORx device which includes a hollow-fiber oxygenator and integral centrifugal pump with a surface area of 1.2 m2. This system also incorporates an air sensing solenoid which triggers rapid air evacuation in a bolus range of 1 mL or greater. Kinetic venous drainage is another feature of this device as the centrifugal pump is integrated into the oxygenator. We believed that a miniature extracorporeal circuit would enhance the desired clinical outcome as opposed to the risk of: (1) off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) approach and the concern of emergent transition to an on-pump procedure and (2) use of larger surface area with conventional systems that impose a greater hemodilutional effect. Leukocyte filtration was employed as the patient had a significant past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We herein report our clinical experience with this method of treatment on a patient who refused the use of blood products in his surgical treatment. It is our belief that the multiple modalities utilized in combination during this procedure resulted in positive clinical outcomes as demonstrated by an intubation time of 8 hours 35 min with a discharge on the fifth postoperative day.

Outcomes After Usage of a Quality Initiative Program for Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Comparison With On-Pump Surgery

Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) may be associated with improved outcomes when compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass. This study evaluates the use of a system for access and stabilization (SAS) with a coronary stabilizer as well as a clinical effectiveness quality initiative (CEQI) process regarding outcomes. This included the development of an expanded heart care team as well as standardization and refinement of perioperative care at The Lankenau Hospital (TLH). Our aim was to evaluate morbidity and mortality of on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared with OPCAB surgery using SAS in addition to a CEQI initiative. A retrospective consecutive cohort study using the Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS) National Database was conducted. Three cohorts were analyzed: pre-SAS (December 1, 1999-August 31, 2000); use of SAS only (September 1, 2000-April 30, 2001), and the use of SAS + CEQI process (May 1, 2001-September 30, 2002). Morbidity and mortality for all on-pump CABG procedures performed over the time period of December 1, 1999-September 30, 2002 were compared with the SAS and SAS + CEQI groups only. One-thousand two-hundred sixty-seven procedures were performed; 405 on-pump CABGs, 90 OPCABs pre-SAS, and 772 OPCABs with SAS, of which 552 were in the SAS + CEQI group. Statistically mortality was significantly lower in the SAS + CEQI vs the on-pump group (0.7% vs 3.0%, p < 0.01). The percentage of patients with prolonged ventilation was significantly lower statistically in the SAS + CEQI vs the on-pump group (4.2% vs 9.7%, p < 0.01). Statistically the length of stay was significantly lower in both SAS groups compared with the on-pump group (p < 0.01). OPCAB surgery using SAS in conjunction with a CEQI initiative improves outcomes for patients compared with on-pump CABG surgery.

Assessment of Diastolic Function with Tissue Doppler Imaging after Cardiac Surgery: Effects of the “Postoperative Septum” in On-Pump versus Off-Pump Procedures

Assessment of Diastolic Function with Tissue Doppler Imaging after Cardiac Surgery: Effects of the “Postoperative Septum” in On-Pump versus Off-Pump Procedures