[Coronary revascularization on beating heart].

At authors clinic 563 coronary artery bypass graft procedures were done from 1. January 1998 to 15. September 1999. 134 coronary revascularizations were performed from the same surgical team on beating heart using the same surgical technic at normothermia. Out of them, 98 operations were done with and 36 without ECC support respectively. Patients were operated on with this sophisticated technic exclusively during this period. Conversion to cardiac arrest was not necessary in any case. Male/female ratio was 76/58, 84% of the patients suffered from one or more preoperative myocardial infarction. The average bypass number was 2.7/patient. Arterial revascularization was performed in 94%. Postoperative mortality was 2.2% (3 pts). The postoperative inotropic demand, myocardial infarction rate (CK-MB release) and the amount of bleeding was very low. Mean postoperative stay in the ICU decreased to the average of 19 hrs. Patients normally left hospital on the 7th postoperative day. This operative technique--performed by an experienced surgeon--is less invasive for the heart and other organ systems, the incidence of complications can be decreased and the principle of complete revascularization is not compromised.