Anticoagulation with bivalirudin for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: the results of the EVOLUTION-OFF study.

Objectives: Unfractionated heparin has many shortcomings, including indirect and partial inhibition of thrombin, antibody formation, and platelet activation. Bivalirudin, a short-acting direct thrombin inhibitor, avoids these limitations and has superior outcomes during percutaneous revascularization. This trial was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.