Introduction: Myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is today an increasing alternative of revascularization although the limits of applicability are still to be defined. The authors review a series of cases and discuss its indications based upon their results. Patients and Methods: There were analyzed 2495 patients who underwent direct myocardial revascularization without extracorporeal circulation in the period from October 1981 to September 1999, from a total of 10656 patients, submitted to coronary bypass surgery during this period (23.4%). The age varied from 32 to 90 years (medium = 59) with most males (67%). Chronic coronary insufficiency was the most common surgical indication (70.8%) and the majority of the patients received 2 grafts (51.5%). Results: The global mortality rate (30 days) was 1.9% (48/ 2495) and only 45% of these patients needed blood transfusion. The global applicability of this technique was around 23%, however in the last 3 years the applicability was 32.8%, 35.1% and 42.2%. Conclusions: Myocardial revascularization without extracorporeal circulation is a safe tactical alternative for coronary insufficiency and has increased in the last years. This treatment is indicated in this subgroup of lower mortality and small incidence of postoperative complications. In the next years the use of this technique will increase with the use of stabilizers, special manipulation and functional revascularization.
Myocardial revascularization; Extracorporeal circulation; Cardiac output, low; Surgical procedures, minimally invasive; Cardiac surgical procedures
