OBJECTIVETo review and summarize the early outcomes and clinical experience of coronary endarterectomy (CE) and bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass for patients with diffused coronary artery disease.

METHODSFrom May 2003 to May 2005, 53 patients with diffused coronary artery disease underwent CE and bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass. There were 41 males and 12 females aged from 55 to 79 (mean 64 +/- 7) years old. 72% patients (38/53) were in Canadian Cardiac Society (CCS) angina class III and IV. 49% (26/53) had history of myocardial infarction. Coronary angiogram revealed that 3 cases had double vessels disease and, other 50 cases had triple vessels disease with 9 left main stem disease. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ranged from 0.26 to 0.65 (0.52 +/- 0.17). Seventy endarterectomies were performed in 53 patients totally which included 38 in left anterior descending artery (LAD), 8 in circumflex artery and 24 in right coronary artery. Five cases received on-lay venous patch after CE in LAD and then grafted by internal mammary artery (IMA) on the patch. There were 53 left IMAs, 2 radial arteries, others were great saphenous veins, the mean number of grafts was 3.8 +/- 1.1 with index of completeness of revascularization (ICR) 1.03 +/- 0.07.

RESULTSIntra-operative graft flow-meter was used to check the flow in the grafts before chest closure. There is no death in the group. Sixty-three (90%) out of 70 grafts after CE showed a satisfactory grafts flow intra-operatively. Two patients had peri-operative myocardial infarctions but neither had hemodynamic changes. All patients discharged uneventfully with mean hospital stay 9 days postoperatively. Forty-four patients had 6 to 29 months follow-up with no angina re-occurrence. Six patients had coronary angiogram 3 to 27 months postoperatively with all patent grafts to the CE coronaries.

CONCLUSIONCE and bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass is technically feasible and can be performed safely in patients with diffused coronary artery disease with increased completeness of myocardial revascularization.