A comparison of clinical outcomes of LVEF ≤35% versus LVEF>35% in off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background:  Management of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and low ejection fraction (EF) is challenging. The objective was to compare the effect of low EF to normal EF on clinical outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery. Methods: All patients who underwent CABG at VMMC and Safdarjung hospital, from June 2014 till December 2016 with LVEF≤35% (low EF) as well as LVEF>35% (high EF) were studied and their surgical results analyzed by collecting data retrospectively. Out of 203 total patients the LVEF was less than or equal to 35% in 41 (20.19 %) patients, more than 35% in162 (79.81 %) patients. Results:  In LVEF≤35% there were 9 females and the mean age was 60.39±8.76 years, The mean ICU stay in hospital was of 8.73 days, mean ventilator support was 4.01 days, ionotropic support was 4.34 days, mean stay in hospital was of 28.54 days, hospital mortality was 8 (19.51%) in LVEF≤35 versus mean ICU stay in hospital was of 8.73 days, ventilator support was 4.01 days, ionotropic support 4.34 days, mean stay in hospital was of 20.33 days, hospital mortality was 13 (8.02%) in LVEF>35.These data make a survival rate of 80.49% for EF in LVEF≤35 versus 91.98% for EF in LVEF>35. Conclusions:  CABG can be safely performed in low-EF patients with minimal postoperative morbidity and mortality in addition to encouraging home discharge rates.