Efficacy of Elective Intra-aortic Balloon Pump Therapy for High-Risk Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass: A Prospective Comparative Study

Objective: This study evaluated the usefulness of elective intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) in high-risk off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Materials and methods: From October 2002 through September 2006, total of 143 patients were operated with OPCAB. These patients were divided into two groups and clinical outcomes were compared: Group E (N = 30): Elective IABP group and Group C (N = 113): Control group, OPCAB without IABP. The criteria of elective application of IABP were severe stenosis of left main coronary artery (LMCA) or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 35%. Results: No significant difference was noted in the duration of ICU stay (Group E: 1.13 ± 0.43 days; Group C: 1.18 ± 0.60 days, p = 0.710), the number of patients on a respirator for 24 hours or longer after surgery (Group E: 10.0%; Group C: 5.3%, p = 0.397), hospital mortality (Group E: 0%; Group C: 0%), or the frequency of postoperative major complications between two groups. Conclusions: The outcomes of OPCAB using elective IABP in high-risk patients, such as those with severe LMCA stenosis or left ventricular dysfunction, were similar to those of OPCAB in low-risk patients, suggesting the usefulness of elective IABP in OPCAB.