Does Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Without Cardiopulmonary Bypass Reduce Costs in Cardiac Surgery?

Technical improvements in coronary revascularization over the past decade have led to a revival of interest in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Cost containment in coronary artery bypass surgery is becoming increasingly important in modern hospital management. Therefore, further savings could be obtained by using a surgical technique able to decrease the fixed direct cost while maintaining clinical quality of care. Economic considerations are an extremely important issue in evaluating the role of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in the future of cardiac surgery, as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is expected to lower costs by reducing perioperative morbidity and recovery time. However, the acceptance of this procedure as a routine alternative for the treatment of coronary artery disease will depend on both long-term graft patency rates as well as a competitive market cost. This review examines these effects.