Aim: Bypass surgery in high risk patients over the age of 75 results in increased mortality and morbidity, which may be also related to the cardiopulmonary bypass system.
Methods: Using the propensity score analysis, we have selected two homogeneous groups of high-risk elderly patients undergoing coronary surgery: 41 patients operated with cardiopulmonary bypass- coronary artery bypass graft (CPB-CABG), and 78 patients operated without cardiopulmonary bypass (off-pump coronary artery bypass graft, OPCABG). All preoperative and operative variables were similar and outcomes were compared.
Results: Perioperative mortality was higher in the patient group operated with CPB (12.2%) as compared to patients operated without CPB (1.3%, P = 0.01). Perioperative complications were more frequent in the CPB-CABG group. Logistic regression analysis showed that avoiding CPB was an independent protective factor for mortality and morbidity. Midterm survival, freedom from angina, freedom from reintervention, and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CSS) class were comparable between the 2 groups.
Conclusion: OPCABG is safe in the high risk elderly population and significantly reduces postoperative mortality and morbidity. There are no differences in midterm results between the 2 groups of patients in our study.