Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is generally performed by cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump CABG) technique. The off-pump CABG i.e. technique of performing CABG on a beating heart was developed to decrease the risk of perioperative complications and to improve long-term outcomes. Recently, a large clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of off-pump vs. on-pump CABG on 4752 patients. According to the trial results, both procedures were found to be equally effective and safe and there was not significant difference in the mortality rate, cost or quality of life.
What is your opinion about these results? What is your criteria for selecting off-pump or on-pump technique for a particular patient? Reference Lamy, André, et al. Five-Year Outcomes After Off-Pump Or On-Pump Coronary-Artery Bypass Grafting. New England Journal of Medicine 375.24 (2016): 2359-2368.
