Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass: Essentials of Art, Science, and Technology

This book is a definitive guide to the increasingly adopted technique of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. It explores the evolution and outcomes of OPCAB, particularly its widespread use in regions like Japan, where long-term data has helped validate its safety and effectiveness. It emphasizes the critical elements of patient selection, operative strategy, anesthesia, and perioperative management, offering nuanced guidance for handling both routine and high-risk cases. The text also addresses challenges unique to OPCAB, such as intraoperative graft assessment and the decision-making process for emergency conversion to on-pump surgery.A major focus is placed on surgical craftsmanship — from harvesting various graft conduits to performing anastomoses with stability and precision. It also examines advanced applications of OPCAB, including minimally invasive approaches, complex revascularization strategies, and solutions for patients with comorbidities like renal failure or poor ventricular function. With its blend of clinical rigor and surgical artistry, this book serves as both a reference and a roadmap for practitioners dedicated to refining and advancing the field of coronary bypass surgery without the heart-lung machine.