Awake Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) was implemented to reduce trauma during surgical coronary revascularization. High thoracic epidural anesthesia further reduced intraoperative stress and postoperative pain. This technique also supports awake coronary artery bypass (ACAB), completely avoiding the drawbacks of mechanical ventilation and general anesthesia in high-risk patients. We compared our first results of the ACAB procedure with the conventional operation on the beating heart.

Continuation of thoracic epidural analgesia provides better pain control and faster mobilization after such procedures. Surprisingly, the ACAB procedure was well accepted by the patients.