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.