Coronary Endarterectomy with Beating Heart in Patients with Diffuse Atheromatous Coronary Artery Disease and Poor Ventricular Function: Early and Midterm Results

Abstract

The results of this study show increased operative mortality and morbidity in patients requiring coronary artery endarterectomy. However, the early results and particularly the midterm survival rates, clinical status, and continued graft patency justify off-pump coronary artery endarterectomy in patients with severely depressed left ventricular function and diffuse coronary artery disease. Many of these patients have disease that would otherwise be inoperable.