Off pump coronary surgery

Coronary Arteries Bypass Grafting, known as ‘CABG’, is routinely performed in the UK on more than 20,000 patients per year. Over the last 40 years these operations have saved the lives of millions of patients and improved their quality of life by improving their angina pain and shortness of breath. OPCAB (Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass) means that the coronary bypass operation is performed without stopping the heart and lungs and without using the cardiopulmonary bypass machine. (The OPCAB technique is described in the following video).

The use of the cardiopulmonary bypass machine has complications such as mid-term memory loss or increased risk of having a blood transfusion after surgery.

In specific patients OPCAB significantly reduces the risk of death and stroke compared to a traditional ‘On Pump’ operation. Mr. Casula is one of a minority of cardiac surgeons who routinely use this procedure within the UK.