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Nonrandomized studies in selected patients have documented similar in-hospital outcomes and graft patency with on-pump and off-pump (beating-heart) coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but shorter hospital stays with the off-pump procedure. In a recent randomized trial, 3-month graft patency was significantly better with on-pump than with off-pump CABG, but less surgeon experience with the off-pump procedure could have played a role (Journal Watch Cardiology Feb 6 2004).
In a new, partly industry-supported, randomized trial of on-pump versus off-pump CABG at one academic center, researchers enrolled patients unselected for coronary anatomy, ventricular function, or comorbidities. Of 297 patients screened, 200 were randomized. A surgeon ex…