On-pump vs off-pump CABG

Editor's Note

On-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are equally safe and effective, this study finds.

At 5 years there was no significant difference between on-pump and off-pump CABG in combined rates of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, renal failure, or subsequent revascularization procedures (23.6% vs 23.1%). There also was no significant difference in costs ($14,992 vs $15,107) or quality of life.

The study randomized 4,752 patients from 19 countries who had coronary artery disease to undergo on-pump or off-pump CABG.