Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using continuous heparin infusion.

Objectives: Levels of anticoagulation during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) remain controversial. Prolonged activated clotting time (ACT) during OPCAB increases blood loss during surgery and can also cause paradoxical increase in postoperative myocardial infarction. Shorter ACT can increase thrombotic complication.

Total arterial anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with heart failure - Case report.

A 69-year-old male diabetic patient of heart failure underwent successful off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using both internal thoracic arteries and left radial artery. There was improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction within 4 days. This is the first ever case report of off-pump CABG in a heart failure patient.

Anaortic off-pump bilateral internal mammary grafting in severe left ventricular dysfunction - Case report.

A 64 years old male diabetic patient with ejection fraction of 16% and renal dysfunction underwent off-pump CABG using both in situ internal mammary artery grafts. Left internal mammary artery was used to bypass left anterior descending artery and right internal mammary artery was used as composite graft. Patient had uneventful recovery and left ventricular ejection fraction improved to 34% within 8 months after surgery.

Is magnesium sulfate friend or foe of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery?

Magnesium sulfate is often used empirically in cardiac surgical settings. Magnesium sulfate may cause platelet dysfunction leading to bleeding complication. This editorial commentary discusses the published study of intra-operative use of magnesium sulfate during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting published in this issue of Indian Heart Journal.

Nicorandil Infusion During Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Reduces Incidence of Intra-aortic Balloon Pump Insertion.

Objective: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with left ventricular dysfunction has proven to be advantageous. However, it carries risk of emergency conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. We have successfully used an intra-aortic balloon pump to prevent such conversion.

Total arterial anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for diffuse coronary disease - A case report.

Surgical treatment of diffuse coronary artery disease remains challenging. We present here a diabetic patient, with diffuse coronary disease, revascularized using total arterial anaortic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. He received total nine distal grafts.

A novel technique of anesthesia induction in supine position with impaled knife in the back.

Current technique of airway management for impaled knife in the back includes putting the patient in lateral position and intubation. We present here a novel technique of anesthesia induction (intubation and central line insertion) in a patient with impaled knife in the back which is simple and easily reproducible. This technique can be used for single lung ventilation using double lumen tube or bronchial blocker also if desired.

Off-pump Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting.

Background: The long-term benefit of bilateral internal thoracic grafts (BITA) is well established. BITA grafting is often avoided in diabetic, female, obese, elderly and other high-risk patients because of concerns for deep sternal wound infection. The objective of this study is to analyse early results of our BITA grafting and to establish the safety of BITA use in all patients.

Intraaortic balloon pump boon for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass techniques have evolved in the past decade, but there are some concerns about hemodynamic decompensation requiring conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. These conversions are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We use an intraaortic balloon pump to treat ischemia-induced hemodynamic instability and arrhythmias during off-pump coronary artery bypass.

Aortic root replacement with absent left-main coronary artery: how to do it.

Aortic root replacement in patient with a coronary artery anomaly can be challenging. We describe aortic root replacement in a patient with annuloaortic ectasia and coarctation, who had an absent left main coronary artery. There were separate origins of the left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries from the aorta.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in India.

Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (OPCAB) is the latest innovation in cardiac surgery. However OPCAB is not adopted universally. Even there have been suggestions of abandoning OPCAB in a special report.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in a low-volume center.

Background: The advantages of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) are well documented; however, the conversion of OPCAB to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. This issue is of particular concern in low-volume centers or centers that are beginning to use OPCAB. We present an OPCAB methodology that uses a maximum number of arterial grafts.