Myocardial oxidative stress during retrograde continuous blood cardioplegia (RCBC) was evaluated in 35 patients undergoing elective aortocoronary bypass surgery. The patients were divided into three groups: Group C (n=12) received cold (20°C) RCBC, Group T (n=11) received tepid (30°C) RCBC, and Group W (n=12) received warm (36°C) RCBC. Myocardial oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the release of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the coronary sinus plasma before aortic clamping, at 1, 5, and 10min after unclamping. Myocardial oxygen uptake and lactate release were assessed at the same times. Both the hemodynamic recovery and the creatine kinase MB (CKMB) activity were measured perioperatively until 24h after unclamping. In Group C, a significant coronary sinus release of GSSG was found in the early reperfusion period in comparison to Groups T and W. However, the peak CK-MB activity was significantly lower in Group T than in Group W. No significant difference in the release of MDA or MPO was noted in the three groups. The recovery of oxygen uptake after unclamping was rapid in Group T. The recovery in the left and right ventricular functions and the myocardial lactate release were similar in the three groups. In conclusion, tepid RCBC is considered to protect the myocardium from ischemia-reperfusion injury better than cold or warm blood cardioplegia under retrograde continuous perfusion.

A 65-year-old man had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using a left internal mammary artery graft 3 years and 5 months previously. Anginal pains recurred due to an occlusion of the left subclavian artery. A subclavian-subclavian artery bypass was performed using 8mm e-PTFE graft with rings and the results were excellent. This grafting procedure appears to be a safe and satisfactory reperfusion technique, and therefore we recommend its use in patients requiring CABG.

A 75-year-old man was admitted with symptoms of unstable angina pectoris. The patient was initially treated with ticlopidine and aspirin after first undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by means of a drug eluting stent (DES). Coronary angiography thereafter showed re-stenosis in left main trunk and two-vessel disease. As a result, emergency off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) was therefore performed. However, major bleeding (3, 245ml) occurred after OPCAB. Therefore, a re-thoracotomy operation had to be performed to stop the bleeding. Based on the above findings it is important for surgeons to keep in mind that pre-operative ticlopidine administration can increase the risk of re-operation for hemostasis, while also potentially increasing and the requirements for blood and blood product transfusion both during and after OPCAB surgery.

This paper reports the findings of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) for a 56-year-old man who had undergone a renal transplantation. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed triple-vessel coronary disease. OPCAB was therefore performed. The patient was discharged 20 days after surgery without any subsequent rejection, infection or renal dysfunction. At two years after the operation the patient is doing well without any cardiac events. Cardiac disease, especially coronary artery disease is a common cause of death in renal transplant patients. Cardiac surgery in renal transplant patients is expected to increase. OPCAB for renal transplant patients with ischemic heart disease is therefore expected to reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction, thereby prolonging patient survival.

A 72-year-old man was admitted to a local hospital with symptoms of unstable angina pectoris. He was given Clopidogrel for acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography showed left main trunk and three-vessel disease. He was then admitted to our hospital due to a sudden onset of unstable angina following shock during the PCI procedure. We performed emergency off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). He received 10 mg/kg/h tranexamic acid during the operation. He also received 2,000 U ascorbic acid at the start of surgery and 2,000 U after undergoing anastomoses of the coronary artery. Postoperatively, only some minor bleeding was observed. Tranexamic acid and Ascorbic acid reduce bleeding, and transfusion requirements of packed red blood cells, platelets, and the total blood units in patients on Clopidogrel who undergo emergency OPCAB.

A 58-year-old man with diabetic nephropathy had been on hemodialysis for 15 years. He had lost his left leg below the knee and whole right leg due to atherosclerotic necrosis. During the past 3 years, his cardiac function had also gradually deteriorated. For the past 2 years, echocardiography showed progressively worsening mitral valve regurgitation. Coronary angiography showed severe stenosis in the left main trunk and left descending artery. Ischemic cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation were diagnosed. He underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve annuloplasty. Because of difficulty in weaning him from cardiopulmonary bypass, he required intra-aortic balloon-pump (IABP) support. An IABP was inserted through the ascending aorta via a tube graft. It was removed on the 4th postoperative day with a small skin incision, under local anesthesia. The postoperative course was uneventful. This IABP insertion technique was useful for a patient with severe arteriosclerotic disease.