Background: The aim of this study was the evaluation of safety and outcome of temporal
clamping of coronary artery in comparison to intraluminal coronary shunting, during distal
anastomosis in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods: To evaluate the early outcome of coronary clamping, we randomly compared the
results of 25 patients submitted to coronary clamping using microvascular clamps during
off-pump CABG (group A), with the results of another 25 patients had traditional intraluminal coronary shunting during same procedure (group B). All patients proved to have
coronary artery disease with no difference between the groups in preoperative clinical
variables.
Results: Clamp group (A) had significant shorter operative time than shunt group (B); it
was 224.2 ± 44.1 min in group (A) versus 250.4 ± 33.7 in group (B).
Our new coronary clamp was applied in (93%) of target vessels but coronary shunt was
implanted in (96%) of target vessels during distal coronary anastomosis.
Clamp group (A) had low number of patients who required inotropic support (adrenaline > 0.15 mg/kg/min) > 24 Hours during perioperative period. The study showed two
cases of mortality in both groups.
At 6 months follow up; no difference between both groups was found, but late postoperative ejection fraction in group (A) was better, when compared to group (B).
Conclusions: Temporal coronary clamping technique may be used as an applicable option
to create a bloodless field during off-pump CABG surgery. It seems to be faster and cheaper
than intraluminal shunting. Also, it has the same complications, mortality and ICU stay.