Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting:: The Zurich experience

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the surgical procedure of choice for treatment of multi-vessel coronary artery disease. The rising risk pro. le of the patients requiring isolated CABG and the economic pressure have prompted us to devise new operative strategies to treat these patients. Elimination of the cardiopulmonary bypass is one possible answer to the dilemma of maintaining the quality of care and reducing the exploding costs of our health system. Therefore, we developed the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) for patients requiring isolated CABG. In our experience the key to successful OPCAB relies on the order of revascularization of the myocardial walls ( anterior, inferior, lateral), use of intracoronary shunt, no-touch technique for the proximal aortic anastomosis with heart string(R) (Guidant, IN, USA), close collaboration with the anesthesiologists, early and aggressive administration of anti-platelet therapy, endoscopic vein harvest by perfusionists, and improved body temperature control. Following these concepts, we have been able to offer the OPCAB procedure to over 90% of our patients and to reduce perioperative morbidity and global costs.