[Beating heart surgery in the treatment of stenoses of the main branch of the left coronary artery].

This study reviewed the early experience with off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in treatment of patients with severe left main coronary artery stenosis. From May 2002-December 2003, 75 patients with significant left main coronary artery stenosis (> or = 50%) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. 35 patients were operated without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (OPCAB) and compared with 40 patients operated with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (ONCAB). Mean age, ejection fraction and EUROSCORE were similar in both groups. Average grafts per patients was also similar (OPCAB 3.0 vs. ONCAB 3.2). The incubation time (3.1 vs. 5.8 hours), blood loss (445 vs. 610 ml) and hospital stay (6.8 vs. 8.1 days) were less in OPCAB group. There was no mortality in OPCAB group whereas 2 patients (5.0%) died in ONCAB group. Our early experience suggests that off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is effective in treatment of patient with severe left main coronary artery stenosis and has advantages compare to operations with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.