Beating heart surgery

Abstract

Off-pump beating heart coronary revascularization is a valuable surgical technique for high-risk patients, particularly those with severe atherosclerotic changes of the aorta, COPD, recent stroke, or for those in whom blood administration is contraindicated. Advances in clampless surgical techniques should further the benefit of OPCAB versus conventional CABG mostly in terms of stroke risk reduction. For now, routine use of OPCAB for all surgical revascularization procedures remains in question.