Off-pump Versus On-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Frail Patients

Surgical access to the heart will be gained through a median sternotomy in all of the patients. In order to reduce the risk of bleeding and transfusions, an absorbable hemostat will be used in the sternal bone marrow. An automatic autotransfusion system will be used to recovery of red blood cells in all patients. Off-pump surgery will be performed with the use of heart stabilizers. Patients will be heparinized with 250 IU/kg intravenously to achieve activated clotting time \>200s. The proximal anastomosis will be performed according to our guidelines. The distal anastomosis will be constructed with the help of mechanical stabilizers and cardiac positioner. Intracoronary shunts will be used routinely.

Surgical access to the heart will be gained through a median sternotomy in all of the patients. On-pump surgery will be performed in normothermia, with the use of aortic cross-clamping and cold cardioplegic arrest. Patients will be heparinized with 500 IU/kg to achieve an activated clotting time \>480 s. Heparin will be neutralized with 1:1 protamine sulfate. The automatic autotransfusion system will be used just in massive blood loss to recovery the red blood cells. Surgical techniques will be performed according to our guidelines.