Neuropsychologic and quality-of-life outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass: a prospective randomized trial

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare neuropsychologic and quality-of-life outcomes of patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery to those undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery using conventional cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: A prospective randomized trial of coronary artery bypass graft surgery with and without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Setting: A cardiothoracic surgery unit at a tertiary hospital.

Participants: Sixty-six patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery and a control group of 50 participants not undergoing cardiac surgery.

Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass or randomized to coronary artery bypass graft surgery without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Measurements and Main Results: The proportions of neuropsychologic deficits and improvement in quality-of-life were comparable regardless of whether patients were randomized to receive off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery or conventional coronary artery graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Conclusions: Patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafts without cardiopulmonary bypass did not show fewer cognitive deficits or greater improvement in quality of life.