Single-clamp technique: an important adjunct to myocardial and cerebral protection in coronary operations.

To determine the myocardial and cerebral protective properties of the single cross-clamp (group I; n = 160) versus the partial occluding clamp (group II; n = 150) technique for construction of the proximal anastomoses, a retrospective analysis of 310 patients operated on by the same surgeon was performed. Group I patients were older (median age, 70 versus 64 years; p < or = 0.0001), with 83 (52%), versus 41 (27%) in group II, 70 years and older (p < or = 0.0001). More group I patients were in New York Heart Association functional class IV (42 [26%] versus 22 [15%]; p = 0.008); more required preoperative balloon counterpulsation (35 [22%] versus 16 [11%]; p = 0.006); and more required emergent operation (20 [13%] versus 3 [2%]; p < or = 0.0001). Antegrade crystalloid cardioplegia was used in both groups. The median cross-clamp time was 58 minutes for group I versus 44 minutes for group II (p < or = 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the number of bypass grafts, the use of the mammary artery, or the bypass time. The operative mortality was 2.5% (n = 4) for group I versus 5.3% (n = 8) for group II (p = 0.16), and the perioperative myocardial infarction/low cardiac output state was seen in 6 patients (3.8%) in group I versus 18 patients (12%) in group II (p = 0.006). The median creatine kinase MB release was 13 U/L for group I versus 19 U/L for group II (p = 0.0029).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)