clinical update publication

Department of Surgery Conducts Further Research on Beating Heart Coronary Artery Bypass

Deborah Heart and Lung Center recently conducted several investigations to further explore the benefits of use of the Octopus™ Tissue Stabilization System, manufactured by Medtronic, Inc. The Octopus™ stabilizer enables surgeons to perform multi-vessel coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures on a beating heart without use of cardiopulmonary bypass, by using suction to reposition the heart and immobilize the suturing area. This alternative to standard CABG was approved for use by the FDA in 1997, and eliminates complications during surgery and subsequent recovery associated with cardiopulmonary bypass. Since surgeons at Deborah Heart and Lung Center began using the Octopus device to bypass vessels on beating hearts, we knew of many of its benefits, however, Deborah's Department of Surgery is currently conducting research to substantiate the belief that the device also greatly reduces the risk of stroke in high-risk open heart surgery patients.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center's Department of Surgery recently conducted two separate research investigations exploring the potential benefits of the Octopus™ device, beyond the elimination of complications associated with cardiopulmonary bypass. The department followed a group of 84 patients determined to be at high risk for stroke during Octopus™ CABG. Based on compiled national data and preoperative patient assessments, surgeons predicted the number of strokes that would occur in the patient group.

After all patients had been revascularized and had recovered from the Octopus™ CABG procedure, researchers found that the number of high-risk patients who suffered strokes during the procedure was low; in fact, the difference between the predicted number of strokes and actual strokes was even more pronounced than researchers expected.

Based on existing national data, we expected that the number of strokes that had occurred in this group of high-risk Octopus CABG patients would be lower than the number predicted. Excitedly, the difference was much more pronounced than we had expected, leading us to further research patient groups qualifying for the Octopus procedure.

Because of these encouraging results in the high-risk patient group, published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Research, researchers in Deborah's Department of Surgery began further investigation into the reduced risk of stroke in all Octopus™ CABG patients. Following 159 patients, researchers aimed to demonstrate a risk reduction not just in high-risk patients, but also in patients facing CABG at all levels of stroke risk.

tmr surgery

This study helped to validate the findings of the first study, which showed the Octopus procedure reduces the occurrence of stroke in high risk patients undergoing Octopus CABG, when compared to standard CABG. We proposed that this pronounced stroke reduction would affect not just the population at high risk, but patients facing CABG at all levels of risk, and aimed to verify this hypothesis.

Researchers confirmed, during this study, that stroke risk was reduced in large populations of Octopus™ CABG patients, verifying the results of the department's first follow-up study, and were also able to identify a pronounced risk reduction in low to moderate risk patients as well. Members of the research team, presented the results of this study to the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery in Atlanta, GA. Results will also be published in an upcoming issue of Heart Surgery Forum, a new journal devoted solely to minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Currently, the Department of Surgery is launching similar research, investigating the use of the Octopus™ device during combined CABG/Transmyocardial Revascular-ization (TMR) procedures. Performed by drilling channels directly into the heart by laser, TMR enables surgeons to completely revascularize areas of the heart which could not be bypassed by CABG. As Deborah Heart and Lung Center is one of only a few institutions performing Octopus™ CABG/TMR, and was instrumental in the national multi-clinical trials for TMR, researchers are eager to confirm that Octopus™ offers similar rates of stroke risk reduction for this procedure, as well.

We are pleased to report that the Department of Surgery remains active in its clinical research efforts. Clearly, because Deborah Heart and Lung Center makes every effort to remain on the cutting edge of medical, interventional and surgical care, it is our patients who benefit most from our efforts. We are proud to be part of an institution which aims to remain at the forefront of medical research, giving our patients access to the latest advances in cardiac surgery.

Return to Home l Cardiac Services l Pulmonary Services l Patient Information l Support Groups l Directions

Are You Interested in Being Contacted for an Appointment?
Questions? send your e-mail to
askaquestion@deborah.org