Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: Exposure, stabilization, and strategy

Abstract Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), either via median sternotomy or via left anterior small thoracotomy, can now be accomplished with the help of the newly manufactured stabilization devices from diverse companies. Furthermore, heart positioners have evolved and provide cardiac tissue capture through gentle vacuum compression on the apex, enabling elevation of the heart with preserved hemodynamics. We present our experience in exposure and stabilization during OPCAB operations.