Myocardial metabolism and hemodynamics during coronary surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass

Background. Although renewed interest has recently been shown in coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass, no reports are available on myocardial metabolism and hemodynamics during temporary coronary occlusion and rotation of the contracting heart. Methods. Changes in myocardial energy metabolism and hemodynamics were monitored in 12 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass, and the postoperative efflux of creatine kinase-MB mass and troponin T were also determined. Results. There was a significant increase in myocardial production of ATP degradation products (p = 0.026) and lactate (p = 0.004) during the operation. Myocardial oxygen extraction decreased (p = 0.012) in correlation with use of the short-acting β-blocker, esmolol (r = −0.71). Apart from a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (p = 0.002), there were no significant hemodynamic changes during the operation. The overall postoperative troponin T and creatine kinase-MB mass changes remained nonsignificant during the first two postoperative days. One patient had a myocardial infarction, diagnosed by electrocardiography, on the second postoperative day, but otherwise there were no major complications. Conclusions. Coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass seems to be well tolerated as only minor changes in myocardial energy metabolism and hemodynamics are observed during the operation.