Predictors of early and overall outcome in coronary artery bypass without cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective: Cardiopulmonary bypass in coronary artery bypass graft operations may adversely affect the outcome especially in high-risk patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate results of coronary artery bypass performed without cardiopulmonary bypass, in a relatively high-risk cohort, and to identify predictors of unfavorable outcome. Method: Three hundred and thirteen (313) patients, 246 (79%) of whom had high-risk conditions, who have a coronary anatomy suitable for coronary artery bypass surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass, underwent this procedure between December 1991 and July 1995. Mean number of grafts/patient was 1.8 (1-5), and only 71 patients (23%) received a graft to the circumflex coronary system. Results: Early unfavorable outcome events included operative mortality (12 patients, 3.8%), nonfatal perioperative myocardial infarction (eight patients, 2.6%), emergency reoperation (three patients, 0.9%), sternal infection (five patients, 1.6%), and nonfatal stroke (two patients, 0.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed angina pectoris class IV (odds ratio 5.4) and age greater than or equal to 70 years (odds ratio 5.0) as independent predictors of early mortality. Preoperative risk factors such as repeat coronary artery bypass grafting (50 patients, 16%), ejection fraction less than or equal to 0.35 (85 patients, 27%), acute myocardial infarction (86 patients, 28%), cardiogenic shock (ten patients, 3.2%), chronic renal failure (25 patients, 8%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (20 patients, 6%), and peripheral vascular disease (51 patients, 16%) did not increase early mortality. During 33 months of follow-up (range 1-57 months), there were 42 deaths, at least 16 cardiac-related (one and four years actuarial survival of 90% and 76% respectively), and 39 patients (12.5%) in whom angina returned. Calcified aorta (odds ratio 2.6) and old myocardial infarction (odds ratio 1.8) were independent predictors of overall unfavorable events. Conclusions: Coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass can be performed with relatively low operative mortality in certain high-risk subgroups of patients; however, an increased risk of graft occlusion is a potential disadvantage. This procedure should therefore be considered only for patients with suitable coronary anatomy, in whom cardiopulmonary bypass poses a high risk. Although the risk of stroke is relatively low, the procedure is still hazardous for patients aged 70 years and over. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.