RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Gastrointestinal ischemia (GII) after heart surgery is a rare but devastating condition. The aim of this study was to compare the occurrence of GII after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed off-pump (OPCAB) vs on-pump (ONCAB). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 2625 adult patients who underwent isolated coronary artery surgery during a 6-year period. The OPCAB group included 658 patients and the ONCAB group 1967 patients. Patients were evaluated, and GII, morbidity, and mortality in the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: GII developed in 0.4% (7 of 1967) patients in the ONCAB group and in 0.2% (1 of 658) patients in the OPCAB group (P = .28). Mortality rates due to GII were 0.2% (4 of 1967) in the ONCAB group, and no deaths occurred in the OPCAB group (P < .04). Postoperative atrial fibrillation incidence with GII was 100% (7 of 7) in ONCAB group and 0% (0 of 1) in the OPCAB group (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to ONCAB, the OPCAB procedure has lower GII related mortality rates, which is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the postoperative period of CABG surgery.