Coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The surgical management of acute coronary syndrome still remains a challenge for the cardiac surgeon. Although most patients can be managed by percutaneous coronary intervention, for patients with complex multivessel or left main coronary artery disease (high SYNTAX score), in whom percutaneous coronary intervention is not possible or is unsuccessful, urgent or emergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery is the only available option. It is very important for surgeons to determine the optimum timing of surgical intervention, which is usually based on the clinical presentation, coronary anatomy, and biomarkers. Surgeons should be conversant with the different operative techniques, whether off- or on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery, that would help in achieving the best possible outcomes in such situations. Early and late survival of patients depends not only on an efficiently executed operation, but also on the competency of the post-operative care delivered. Modern perioperative management is reinforced by the availability of a variety of mechanical cardiopulmonary assist devices, like the intra-aortic balloon pump, the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and an array of ventricular assist devices, which aid us in managing very sick patients presenting with cardiogenic shock. The results of coronary artery bypass graft surgery for acute coronary syndrome, as published in the literature, vary significantly, because of the heterogeneity of patient populations, operative timing, and haemodynamic status, making a comparison of surgical outcomes almost impossible. Only one randomized trial has been conducted to that effect, to date. A heart team approach, involving an interventional cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon, is mandatory to determine the best treatment strategy and achieve the best possible outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.