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DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1297737
Successful coronary artery bypass grafting with the aid of a new portable, minimized extracorporeal life support system
Objectives: Extracorporeal life support system (ECLS) has been successfully used in patients with cardiac failure after open heart surgery, as a bridge to cardiac transplantation, and in patients with prolonged cardiogenic shock or cardiopulmonary arrest. In this report, we present our early experience with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with the aid of the new portable miniaturized ECLS system Cardiohelp.
Methods: Between August 2010 and April 2011, a total number of 50 patients underwent CABG with the Cardiohelp. This subgroup was matched for gender and logistic EuroSCORE with 50 patients, who underwent CABG using conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC) during the same period.
Results: Although the numbers of distal anastomoses did not differ between the two groups, extracorporeal circulation time was significantly shorter in the Cardiohelp group (80±26min vs. 96±30min; p<0.001). Postoperative release of creatinine kinase, and lactate were significantly lower after revascularization in the Cardiohelp group (p<0.0001). Because of less hemodilution, only 18% of Cardiohelp patients required intraoperative blood transfusion (p=0.009). Furthermore, these patients had shorter duration of ventilation and lengths of stay at the intensive care unit (p<0.05) and the 30-day mortality was only 2%. Device-related complications were not observed.
Conclusion: The ECLS system Cardiohelp is a safe alternative for CABG surgery. Valid technical innovations, easy application and a limited number of side effects support its employment as a highly effective device for coronary surgery.