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The development of cardiac stabilizers has renewed interest in beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting (off-pump CABG). Use of cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump CABG) is believed to contribute to postoperative morbidity including neuropsychological impairment. To compare these 2 techniques directly in unselected patients who required multivessel grafting, researchers in Britain randomized 104 patients (mean age, 62; 27% with diabetes) who needed at least 3 grafts to on-pump or off-pump CABG at a single center.
The mean number of grafts was similar in the 2 groups (on-pump, 3.4; off-pump, 3.1). Mean blood loss also was similar, although more on-pump patients needed transfusions and required re-sternotomy for bleeding. Six and 12-hour post…