Total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for revascularization of the total coronary system: clinical outcome and angiographic evaluation.

Background: We assessed the clinical outcome and conducted an angiographic study of total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for revascularization of the total coronary system.

Methods: Of 382 consecutive patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass between April 2000 and December 2002, 235 patients (193 men and 42 women, mean age 66 +/- 9 years) with three-vessel disease underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass with all arterial grafts. A total of 872 vessels were bypassed (average number of grafts 3.7 +/- 0.8). The internal thoracic arteries, radial arteries, and gastroepiploic arteries were used for revascularization of 306, 542, and 24 coronary arteries, respectively. Two hundred twenty-five patients underwent revascularization with composite grafts that were connected to the in situ internal thoracic artery (Y configuration 181, I configuration 55, K configuration 27, X configuration 3, T configuration 1); 10 patients underwent revascularization with all in situ grafts.

Results: Three (1.3%) hospital deaths and 1 late death occurred. There were no occurrences of clinical underperfusion syndrome or new intraaortic balloon pump insertion. Cerebral infarction occurred in 2 patients (0.8%). Early postoperative angiography was performed on 833 grafts in 223 patients (95%); the overall patency rate was 98%. Stratified by coronary distribution, the patency rate was 99% (218/221) in the left anterior descending artery, 97% (84/87) in the diagonal artery, 99% (70/71) in the obtuse marginal artery, 98% (262/268) in the posterolateral artery, 98% (167/170) in the posterior descending artery, and 100% (16/16) in the right coronary artery.

Conclusions: Total arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass yielded good clinical results and an excellent patency rate of revascularization for the total coronary system.