Nicorandil Infusion During Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Reduces Incidence of Intra-aortic Balloon Pump Insertion.

OBJECTIVE: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with left ventricular dysfunction has proven to be advantageous. However, it carries risk of emergency conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. We have successfully used an intra-aortic balloon pump to prevent such conversion. The objective of the present study was to evaluate if intravenous nicorandil infusion reduces the incidence of intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion. METHODS: Consecutive cases of isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery performed by a single surgeon were studied. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group did not receive nicorandil, and the second group received intraoperative nicorandil infusion (started in the operating room after central line insertion). RESULTS: A total of 375 patients were included in the study. Four patients in the non-nicorandil group and the patients in nicorandil group were on preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump and hence excluded from the study. After routine use of nicorandil infusion, incidence of intra-aortic balloon pump insertion during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery decreased from 12.4% (21/169) to 2.9% (6/206). CONCLUSIONS: Nicorandil infusion significantly (P = 0.007) reduced the incidence of intra-aortic balloon pump insertion in our series. In patients with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤ 30%), this difference (P = 0.008) assumes a special significance as off-pump bypass surgery is considered high risk in this subset. Nicorandil is an inexpensive drug, and the reduction in cost of surgery by avoiding intra-aortic balloon pump insertion is an added advantage. The use of nicorandil infusion during off-pump coronary artery bypass may result in favorable patient outcomes by reducing invasive intra-aortic balloon pump insertion during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Intraaortic balloon pump boon for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary artery bypass techniques have evolved in the past decade, but there are some concerns about hemodynamic decompensation requiring conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. These conversions are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We use an intraaortic balloon pump to treat ischemia-induced hemodynamic instability and arrhythmias during off-pump coronary artery bypass. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of intraaortic balloon pump use in off-pump coronary artery bypass to prevent emergency conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Data of 529 consecutive unselected patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass were included in this retrospective study of prospectively collected data and operation notes. Complete revascularization was performed using an off-pump technique. All arterial grafts using bilateral internal mammary arteries, and aortic no-touch technique were preferred. If the clinical situation demanded, vein grafts were used. During the procedure, any hemodynamic compromise not responding to conventional inotropic therapy was treated with intraaortic balloon pump insertion. RESULTS: Complete revascularization was possible in all 529 patients. An intraaortic balloon pump was inserted in 33 (6.2%) patients to treat hemodynamic instability; in all cases, conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass was avoided and complete revascularization was achieved. CONCLUSION: For treating hemodynamic instability during off-pump coronary artery bypass, we recommend intraaortic balloon pump insertion as the preferred bail-out method rather than conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass.