Originally introduced several decades ago, myocardial revascularization on the beating heart was largely abandoned as new techniques for extracorporeal circulation were developed. While the popularity of coronary surgery on the arrested heart remained undisputed for decades, a belief in the benefits of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and electromechanical arrest had sustained interest in techniques for surgery on the beating heart. Combined with the refinement of techniques of coronary exposure and myocardial stabilization, coronary surgery on the beating heart had slowly regained popularity in the 1990s. The result of an important collaboration from several international authorities in the field, Beating Heart Coronary Artery Surgery summarizes the most important and innovative developments in surgical myocardial revascularization that have evolved in recent years. The book is divided into three parts: technical aspects ("how to"); surgical approaches; and outcomes in off-pump coronary surgery. The reader will be exposed to a comprehensive review of the principles of coronary exposure, preferred surgical approaches, coronary stabilization, management of hemodynamics, graft patency verification in off-pump coronary surgery, and patient outcomes.
