Should we consider off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients undergoing coronary endarterectomy?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with coronary endarterectomy (OPCAB-CE) is a safe and feasible method of myocardial revascularization in patients presenting with diffuse coronary artery disease. Seventy-one papers were identified by a systematic search, of which nine were judged to best answer the clinical question. All were observational studies. Of these, two were comparative and the remaining seven were case series. The authors, journal, date, country of publication, patient group, study type, relevant outcomes and results were tabulated. In total, these 9 studies included 341 patients (225 OPCAB-CE, 116 ONCAB-CE) undergoing coronary endarterectomy in combination with coronary artery bypass grafting. CE was performed either by an open method whereby the atheroma is removed through an arteriotomy made along the length of the stenosis or by a closed method whereby the atheroma is removed by gentle traction through a small arteriotomy made over a proximal area of the plaque. Overall, OPCAB-CE was associated with a low perioperative mortality ranging from zero in smaller case series to 2.8% in the largest study (n = 70). Two comparative studies demonstrate at least equivalent 30-day mortality between OPCAB-CE and ONCAB-CE, although the sample sizes are small. The overall incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) was 6.1% (11/180) and seems comparable between OPCAB-CE and ONCAB-CE. Notably, both postoperative MI and mortality appeared higher in patients undergoing multiple endarterectomies performed using a closed technique and CE to the right coronary artery was associated with increased postoperative MI. In summary, OPCAB-CE in the setting of diffuse coronary artery disease appears both safe and feasible, yielding comparable results to ONCAB-CE. Where possible, open arteriotomy with on-lay patch angioplasty may improve postoperative outcomes. Large, prospective database studies are now required with explicit sub-group criteria and stratification to number, territory and technique of endarterectomy in order to isolate the patients in whom OPCAB-CE may confer the greatest benefit.