Anesthesiological management and outcome of 100 ''beating heart'' coronary artery bypass grafting

AIM: The aim of this paper is to describe the anesthesiological management and the outcome of beating heart revascularization.METHODS: A prospective study has been performed in a tertiary teaching hospital on 100 consecutive patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery revascularization. The main features of anesthetic technique are the maintenance hemodynamic stability and atrial kick.RESULTS: Mechanical stabilisers shunts have improved the management of these patients. In hospital mortality was 1%, acute myocardial infarction 3%, low output syndrome 2%, atrial fibrillation 16%. Only 2% of patients had acute renal failure, but no patient needed renal replacement treatment. No neurologic event was noted. Only 19% of patients received blood transfusion. Ninety-seven % of patients were extubated within 12 h.CONCLUSIONS: The application of this anesthetic strategy combined with surgical skillful and new devices makes off-pump surgery safe also in high risk patients.