The application of the Octopus (R) stabilizing system for the treatment ofhigh risk patients with coronary artery disease

Objectives: If coronary disease is the target of a minimally invasive proce dure, median sternotomy or cardiopulmonary bypass or both can be avoided. S imilar to the development in other fields of surgery, minimally invasive su rgical techniques are gaining increased acceptance in the field of cardioth oracic surgery. Our experience with an off pump coronary artery bypass (OPC AB) technique in a special patients group with serious risk factors for the application of cardiopulmonary bypass has been analyzed. Methods: Between March 1996 and January 1999, 88 patients (64 male, 24 female) with impaired left ventricular function, or other high risk factors jeopardizing the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, such as impaired renal or lung function or heav ily calcified aorta, received a beating heart procedure using the Medtronic Octopus' stabilizing system. Results: All patients survived the actual ope ration, however, two multimorbide patients died of pneumonia on postoperati ve day 31 and postoperative day 35, Conclusions: Patients with single-vesse l to multivessel disease and serious risk factors for cardiopulmonary bypas s can be safely treated by OPCAB surgery. At our institution this technique presents the procedure of choice in this particular patients group. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.