Implementation of the aortic no-touch technique to reduce stroke after off-pump coronary surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Despite substantial scientific effort, the relationship between stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting and the use of the aortic no-touch off-pump technique (anOPCAB) remains incompletely understood. The present study aimed to define the effect of anOPCAB on the occurrence and time point of stroke.

METHODS: A total cohort of 15,042 consecutive patients underwent surgical myocardial revascularization at a single institution. After establishing anOPCAB as routine procedure, 4695 patients received surgery by 18 different surgeons using the anaortic approach. After the exclusion of all patients with cardiogenic shock and "side-clamp" off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, 13,279 patients (4485 with anOPCAB) were included in the study. Perioperative strokes were classified as strokes occurring during the hospital stay, with early strokes observed immediately after emergence from anesthesia (vs delayed strokes).

RESULTS: The anOPCAB technique reduced the postoperative stroke rate to 0.49% versus 1.31% in on-pump patients (P < .0001). The overall stroke rate after adoption of anOPCAB (0.64%) decreased compared with before its adoption (1.40%; P < .0001). With anOPCAB, the risk of early strokes virtually disappeared to 4 of 4485 patients (0.09%; 95% confidence interval, 0.00-0.18% vs 0.83% in on-pump patients; P < .0001), whereas the incidence of delayed strokes was not affected (0.40% vs 0.48%; P = .5181). The key results were confirmed after adjustment using propensity score-based analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: The anOPCAB technique with avoidance of any aortic manipulation is an effective tool to minimize the risk of early strokes during coronary artery bypass grafting, and thus, should be considered as a routine approach. In contrast, additional preventive strategies against delayed strokes remain to be elaborated.