Effects of single aortic clamping versus partial aortic clamping techniques on post-operative stroke during coronary artery bypass surgery : cardiovascular topic

• Published in: Cardiovascular Journal Of Africa 2013-08, Vol.24 (6), p.213-217
• Main Authors: Ozdemir, Ugur, Ates, Mehmet, Uyar, Ihsan Sami, Akpinar, Mehmet Besir, Sahin, Veysel, Abacilar, Feyzi, Yurtman, Volkan, Okur, Faik Fevzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coronary bypass; Partial clamp; Stroke
• ISSN: 1995-1892; 1680-0745
• DOI: 10.5830/CVJA-2013-038

Background : The aim of this study was to compare the effects of single-clamping and partial-clamping techniques on post-operative stroke during coronary artery bypass surgery. Methods : Between December 2008 and December 2012, 2 000 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in two hospitals were analysed. Post-operative neurological complications were analysed retrospectively in these patients. The cases were divided into two groups: in group 1, 1 500 patients were analysed, in whom proximal anastomosis was performed with partial clamping in a beating heart (n = 1 500, 846 male, 654 female; mean age 63.25 ± 5.72 years; range 43-78 years). In group 2, 500 patients were analysed, in whom proximal anastomosis had been performed by other surgical teams in another hospital, with cross clamping in a resting heart with cardioplegia (n = 500, 296 male, 214 female; mean age 64.83 ± 8.12 years; range 41-81 years). During 30 days post-operatively, neurological deficits, stroke incidence and the relationship of the clinical situation to mortality were analysed. Results : For both groups, patients were similar in terms of patient characteristics. In group 2, cross-clamp duration and perfusion time were longer; however, time of hospital stay was similar in the two groups. Post-operative stroke was seen in 26 patients in group 1 (1.73%) and in nine in group 2 (1.8%). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.92). All stroke patients were over the age of 55 years. Seven of the stroke patients died (21.1%). In total, 31 patients died because of multiple organ failure in the post-operative 30 days (group 1: 1.6%; group 2: 1.4%) (p = 0.91). Smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease and hypercholesterolaemia were found to be factors that affected stroke development. Mean duration of hospital stay was 5.1 ± 2.8 days in group 1 and 4.9 ± 3.6 days in group 2 and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.46). Conclusion : In patients without plaques in the aorta, performing partial clamping did not increase stroke incidence.