Abstract Interest in off-pump coronary surgery and ischaemic preconditioning has been increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate surrogate indicators of haemodynamic, myocardial, and cerebral outcome during off-pump surgery and preconditioning. Haemodynamics and myocardial preservation were monitored in a pilot study of twelve patients undergoing off-pump coronary surgery. Indicators of myocardial metabolism and tissue injury as well as cerebral damage were evaluated in a randomized study of thirty-three patients undergoing on-pump (11) or off-pump surgery with (11) or without (11) preceding myocardial ischaemic preconditioning for five minutes followed by reperfusion for five minutes. The pilot study showed minimal haemodynamic changes and myocardial derangements during off-pump surgery as evaluated intraoperatively based on transcardiac differences of ATP degradation products and lactate and postoperatively based on MB mass of creatine kinase and troponin T. In the following studies, myocardial ischaemic metabolism was evaluated intraoperatively by measuring transcardiac differences of ATP degradation products, lactate, and pH, which increased significantly from the baseline values in all study groups. However, the maximum values of lactate and pH were significantly higher in the cardiopulmonary bypass group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.007, respectively). There were no statistical differences between the preconditioning and non-preconditioning groups. Myocardial tissue injury was evaluated by postoperative leakage of MB mass of creatine kinase and troponin I. Their peak values were significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008) after cardiopulmonary bypass (15.1 μg/l and 13.8 μg/l) than after off-pump surgery without preconditioning (6.3 μg/l and 5.2 μg/l). The respective values were 14.8 μg/l and 7.4 μg/l after preconditioning, and there were no statistically significant differences between the off-pump groups with and without preconditioning. Cerebral damage was evaluated based on the intra- and postoperative serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase, which were corrected with respect to haemolysis. The corrected values were significantly higher after on-pump than off-pump surgery (p = 0.003 and p = 0.005). In conclusion, multi-vessel off-pump coronary artery surgery is a haemodynamically feasible procedure offering better myocardial preservation compared to on-pump surgery. Ischaemic preconditioning of the myocardium does not seem to improve myocardial preservation in off-pump surgery. The slightly lower levels of neuron-specific enolase also suggest less cerebral damage.

Abstract The identification of risk factors for major adverse events after coronary artery bypass surgery is of main importance as it allows outcome prediction, facilitates preoperative patient selection and improves the quality of care. In the present clinical studies we have evaluated the impact of preoperative angiographic severity of a coronary artery disease and preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) on the immediate outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery. We have reviewed the results of off-pump (OPCAB) versus conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CCAB) in high risk patients. We have evaluated the impact of postoperative pulmonary artery blood temperature on the immediate outcome as well. In addition, we have investigated the incidence, timing and outcome of an atrial fibrillation (AF) related stroke after surgery. The multivariate analysis showed that among 2233 patients, the overall coronary angiographic score was predictive of postoperative death (p = 0.03; OR 1.027, 95% CI: 1.003–1.052) and of a low cardiac output syndrome (p = 0.04; OR 1.172, 95% CI: 1.010–1.218). The poor status of the proximal segment of the left circumflex coronary artery, the diagonal branches and the left obtuse marginal artery were most closely associated with adverse postoperative outcome. Patients (114/764) with a preoperative serum concentration of CRP ≥ 1.0 mg/dL had a higher risk of overall postoperative death (5.3% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.001), cardiac death (4.4% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.002), a low cardiac output syndrome (8.8% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.01). Among 179 high risk patients with an additive EuroSCORE6, the 30-day postoperative death and stroke rates were 7.5% and 6.0% in the OPCAB group, and 5.4% (p = 0.75) and 8.0% (p = 0.77) in the CCAB group, respectively. No significant differences were observed in other major outcome end-points between these non-randomised groups either. High pulmonary artery blood temperature on admission to the ICU among 1639 patients was significantly associated with an increased risk of overall postoperative death (p = 0.002), cardiac death (p = 0.03), and a low cardiac output syndrome (p < 0.0001), and was significantly correlated with prolonged length of the ICU stay (r = 0.095; p < 0.0001), and postoperative bleeding (ρ = –0.091; p = 0.001). Among 2,630 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 52 (2.0%) experienced a postoperative stroke. Twelve out of these 52 patients (23.1%) died postoperatively. The ischemic cerebral event occurred after a mean of 3.7 days (0–33). In 19 patients (36.5%), atrial fibrillation preceded the occurrence of neurological complication. The angiographic severity of the coronary artery disease and the preoperative serum concentration of CRP predict postoperative outcome after a CABG operation. OPCAB can be performed safely in high-risk patients with results as satisfactory as those achieved with CCAB. CABG patients with a high pulmonary artery blood temperature on admission to the ICU seem to have a higher risk of postoperative adverse events. Atrial fibrillation occurring after coronary artery bypass grafting is a major determinant of a postoperative stroke.

The purpose of this study was to compare patients who underwent on- vs. off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery managed with a fast-track protocol. Between September 2012 and December 2018, n = 3505 coronary artery bypass surgeries were managed with a fast-track protocol in our specialized post-anesthesia care unit. Propensity score matching was applied and resulted in two equal groups of n = 926. There was no significant difference in ventilation time (on-pump 75 (55–120) min vs. off-pump 80 (55–120) min, p = 0.973). We found no statistically significant difference in primary fast-track failure in on-pump (8.2% (76)) vs. off-pump (6% (56)) groups (p = 0.702). The secondary fast-track failure rate was comparable (on-pump 12.9% (110) vs. off-pump 12.3% (107), p = 0.702). There were no significant differences between groups in regard to the post-anesthesia care unit, the intermediate care unit, and the hospital length of stay. Postoperative outcome and complications were also comparable, except for a statistically significant difference in PACU postoperative blood loss in on-pump (234 mL) vs. off-pump (323 mL, p < 0.0001) and red blood cell transfusion (11%) and (5%, p < 0.001), respectively. Our results suggest that on- and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in fast-track settings are comparable in terms of ventilation time, fast-track failure rate, and postoperative complications rate.

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a perviedade da artéria torácica interna direita (ATID) pediculada, anteroaórtica em anastomose para a região anterior do coração na cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (RM), em relação à artéria torácica interna esquerda (ATIE). Métodos: No período de dezembro de 2008 a dezembro de 2011, 100 pacientes foram selecionados para serem submetidos a cirurgia de RM sem circulação extracorpórea (CEC), de forma prospectiva. Eles foram agrupados em Grupo 1 (G-1) e Grupo 2 (G-2), cada um com 50 pacientes, com randomização por computador e conhecimento da técnica no início da cirurgia. No G-1, os pacientes receberam ATIE para a região anterior do coração e complementação da RM com a ATID livre para ramos da circunflexa (CX) e outros enxertos arteriais ou venosos para a coronária direita (CD) e/ou ramos. Os pacientes do G-2 receberam ATID pediculada para a região anterior do coração e complementação da RM com ATIE, pediculada, para ramos da CX e outros enxertos arteriais ou venosos para a CD e/ou ramos. A perviedade das artérias torácicas internas direita e esquerda foi avaliada através de angiotomografia coronária multislice, 64 canais, no 6º mês de pós-operatório. Resultados: Os dois grupos eram semelhantes quanto aos dados clínicos de pré-operatório, como exemplo: diabetes mellitus, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, obesidade. Os dois grupos apresentaram predominância do sexo masculino com 75,6% e 88% nos grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente. Cinco pacientes migraram do G-1 para o G-2 em virtude de doença ateromatosa na aorta ascendente e um deles foi excluído por ter que utilizar enxerto composto. A média de anastomoses distais no G-1 foi de 3,48 (DP=0,72), e no G-2 foi de 3,20 (DP=0,76). Não ocorreu mediastinite em nenhum paciente. Uma paciente do G-1 apresentou osteomielite, e necessitou de intervenção cirúrgica. Dois pacientes do G-1 foram submetidos a reoperação por sangramento. Os resultados das angiotomografias coronarianas com 96 pacientes re-estudados mostram que todas as ATIs, fosse a direita ou a esquerda, utilizadas pediculadas para a região anterior do coração encontravam-se sem oclusões ou estenoses, configurando 100% de perviedade. No G-1, um enxerto livre da ATID para ramos da CX apresentava oclusão total, em dois pacientes havia estenose leve, em um deles havia estenose moderada na anastomose proximal na aorta ascendente e outro apresentava diminuição de calibre na sua porção distal. Em três pacientes o enxerto de segmento de veia safena para ramos da CD se encontravam ocluídos. No G-2, dois pacientes apresentavam oclusão total na ATIE pediculada para ramos da CX, e outro apresentava estenose moderada na porção distal da ATIE utilizada sequencial para dois ramos marginais. Em dois pacientes o enxerto de segmento de veia safena para ramos da CD se encontravam ocluídos. Não houve óbitos em nenhum dos grupos. Conclusão: A cirurgia de RM com utilização da ATID pediculada, anterógrada para o RIA, apresenta resultado semelhante ao da ATIE utilizada para essa mesma coronária. / Objective: To analyze the patency of the pedicled, anteroaortic, right internal mammary artery (RIMA) anastomosed to the left anterior descending (LAD) and branches in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), in comparison with the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). Methods: From December 2008 to December 2011, 100 patients were selected to undergo a prospective off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery and were randomly divided by computer into Group 1 (G-1) and Group 2 (G-2), so that the technique was known at the beginning of the surgery. In each group, with 50 patients, the patency of both right and left internal mammary arteries, which were used pedicled to the LAD, was comparatively studied through coronary computed tomography angiography. G-1 had 50 patients who received the LIMA to the LAD or LAD/diagonal (sequential) and had the CABG complemented with the free RIMA to circumflex branches and other arterial or venous grafts to the right coronary artery (RCA) and/or branches. G-2 had 50 patients who received the pedicled RIMA to the LAD or LAD/diagonal (sequential) and had the CABG complemented with the pedicled LIMA to circumflex branches and other arterial or venous grafts to the RCA and/or branches. Results: Both groups were similar in pre-operative clinical data, such as: diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, obesity. Also, there was predominance of males in both groups, with 75,6% and 88% in Groups 1 and 2 respectively. Five patients were switched from G-1 to G-2 owing to atheromatous disease in the ascending aorta, and one of them was dropped for having to use composite graft. The average of distal anastomosis in G-1 was 3,48 (standard deviation (SD=0,72) and in G-2 was 3,20 (SD=0,76). Mediastinitis didn\'t occur in any patient. A patient from G-1 had osteomyelitis that required surgical intervention. Two patients from G-1 underwent reoperation because of bleeding. The 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography was performed in the 6th postoperative month; 96 patients have been re-studied so far and all pedicled IMAs to the LAD were patent. In G-1 a free RIMA graft to the circumflex branches presented total occlusion, another two had a discreet stenosis and in one moderate at the proximal anastomosis and one more had a string signal at the distal portion. In G-2 two patients had total occlusion of the pedicled LIMA to circumflex artery branches, and another one presented moderate stenosis at its distal portion. In two patients the saphenous vein graft to the RCA branches were occluded. There were no deaths in any of the groups. Conclusion: The CABG surgery using the pedicled, anteroaortic RIMA to the LAD has a similar outcome to that of the LIMA used for this same coronary.

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a perviedade da artéria torácica interna direita (ATID) pediculada, anteroaórtica em anastomose para a região anterior do coração na cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (RM), em relação à artéria torácica interna esquerda (ATIE). Métodos: No período de dezembro de 2008 a dezembro de 2011, 100 pacientes foram selecionados para serem submetidos a cirurgia de RM sem circulação extracorpórea (CEC), de forma prospectiva. Eles foram agrupados em Grupo 1 (G-1) e Grupo 2 (G-2), cada um com 50 pacientes, com randomização por computador e conhecimento da técnica no início da cirurgia. No G-1, os pacientes receberam ATIE para a região anterior do coração e complementação da RM com a ATID livre para ramos da circunflexa (CX) e outros enxertos arteriais ou venosos para a coronária direita (CD) e/ou ramos. Os pacientes do G-2 receberam ATID pediculada para a região anterior do coração e complementação da RM com ATIE, pediculada, para ramos da CX e outros enxertos arteriais ou venosos para a CD e/ou ramos. A perviedade das artérias torácicas internas direita e esquerda foi avaliada através de angiotomografia coronária multislice, 64 canais, no 6º mês de pós-operatório. Resultados: Os dois grupos eram semelhantes quanto aos dados clínicos de pré-operatório, como exemplo: diabetes mellitus, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, obesidade. Os dois grupos apresentaram predominância do sexo masculino com 75,6% e 88% nos grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente. Cinco pacientes migraram do G-1 para o G-2 em virtude de doença ateromatosa na aorta ascendente e um deles foi excluído por ter que utilizar enxerto composto. A média de anastomoses distais no G-1 foi de 3,48 (DP=0,72), e no G-2 foi de 3,20 (DP=0,76). Não ocorreu mediastinite em nenhum paciente. Uma paciente do G-1 apresentou osteomielite, e necessitou de intervenção cirúrgica. Dois pacientes do G-1 foram submetidos a reoperação por sangramento. Os resultados das angiotomografias coronarianas com 96 pacientes re-estudados mostram que todas as ATIs, fosse a direita ou a esquerda, utilizadas pediculadas para a região anterior do coração encontravam-se sem oclusões ou estenoses, configurando 100% de perviedade. No G-1, um enxerto livre da ATID para ramos da CX apresentava oclusão total, em dois pacientes havia estenose leve, em um deles havia estenose moderada na anastomose proximal na aorta ascendente e outro apresentava diminuição de calibre na sua porção distal. Em três pacientes o enxerto de segmento de veia safena para ramos da CD se encontravam ocluídos. No G-2, dois pacientes apresentavam oclusão total na ATIE pediculada para ramos da CX, e outro apresentava estenose moderada na porção distal da ATIE utilizada sequencial para dois ramos marginais. Em dois pacientes o enxerto de segmento de veia safena para ramos da CD se encontravam ocluídos. Não houve óbitos em nenhum dos grupos. Conclusão: A cirurgia de RM com utilização da ATID pediculada, anterógrada para o RIA, apresenta resultado semelhante ao da ATIE utilizada para essa mesma coronária. / Objective: To analyze the patency of the pedicled, anteroaortic, right internal mammary artery (RIMA) anastomosed to the left anterior descending (LAD) and branches in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), in comparison with the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). Methods: From December 2008 to December 2011, 100 patients were selected to undergo a prospective off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery and were randomly divided by computer into Group 1 (G-1) and Group 2 (G-2), so that the technique was known at the beginning of the surgery. In each group, with 50 patients, the patency of both right and left internal mammary arteries, which were used pedicled to the LAD, was comparatively studied through coronary computed tomography angiography. G-1 had 50 patients who received the LIMA to the LAD or LAD/diagonal (sequential) and had the CABG complemented with the free RIMA to circumflex branches and other arterial or venous grafts to the right coronary artery (RCA) and/or branches. G-2 had 50 patients who received the pedicled RIMA to the LAD or LAD/diagonal (sequential) and had the CABG complemented with the pedicled LIMA to circumflex branches and other arterial or venous grafts to the RCA and/or branches. Results: Both groups were similar in pre-operative clinical data, such as: diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, obesity. Also, there was predominance of males in both groups, with 75,6% and 88% in Groups 1 and 2 respectively. Five patients were switched from G-1 to G-2 owing to atheromatous disease in the ascending aorta, and one of them was dropped for having to use composite graft. The average of distal anastomosis in G-1 was 3,48 (standard deviation (SD=0,72) and in G-2 was 3,20 (SD=0,76). Mediastinitis didn\'t occur in any patient. A patient from G-1 had osteomyelitis that required surgical intervention. Two patients from G-1 underwent reoperation because of bleeding. The 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography was performed in the 6th postoperative month; 96 patients have been re-studied so far and all pedicled IMAs to the LAD were patent. In G-1 a free RIMA graft to the circumflex branches presented total occlusion, another two had a discreet stenosis and in one moderate at the proximal anastomosis and one more had a string signal at the distal portion. In G-2 two patients had total occlusion of the pedicled LIMA to circumflex artery branches, and another one presented moderate stenosis at its distal portion. In two patients the saphenous vein graft to the RCA branches were occluded. There were no deaths in any of the groups. Conclusion: The CABG surgery using the pedicled, anteroaortic RIMA to the LAD has a similar outcome to that of the LIMA used for this same coronary.