OPCAB
Medical abbreviation · Cardiology
| Stands for | Off-pump coronary artery bypass |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
OPCAB stands for Off-pump coronary artery bypass, a cardiology abbreviation.
Bypass surgery performed on the beating heart without the heart-lung machine, using stabilizers to hold the target artery still while grafts are sewn. It was developed to avoid complications attributed to cardiopulmonary bypass, such as stroke, kidney injury and systemic inflammation.
Example: OPCAB chosen because of a heavily calcified ascending aorta that could not be safely clamped.
Usage notes
Large trials, including ROOBY (2009) and CORONARY (2012), found no overall advantage of off-pump over on-pump surgery, and ROOBY showed lower graft patency off-pump, so most surgeons use it selectively, for example with severe aortic calcification. Also written OPCABG. Outcomes depend heavily on surgeon experience with the technique.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- NSTEMI – Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
- NSVT – Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia
- NT-proBNP – N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide
- NYHA – New York Heart Association
- OH – Orthostatic hypotension
- OM – Obtuse marginal artery
- PAC – Premature atrial contraction
- PAD – Peripheral artery disease
- PAF – Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- PCI – Percutaneous coronary intervention
- PCWP – Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
- PDA – Patent ductus arteriosus
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.