This meta-analysis suggests that the use of Mini-CPB may be associated with lower risk of postoperative stroke and blood losses and with a somewhat decreased mortality. However, due to the large heterogeneity of methods and the small number of studies and patients evaluated so far, larger and homogeneous studies should be performed to obtain more conclusive results on the safety and efficacy of Mini-CPB.

The use of MCPB was associated statistically insignificantly with less retinal microemboli compared to CCPB. MCPB was complicated by excess bleeding and need for transfusion. The feasibility of MCPB techniques in valve surgery requires further studies.

Mini-CPB achieved somewhat better results than C-CPB in these high-risk patients undergoing isolated CABG. This study confirmed that cerebral protection could be the main benefit associated with the use of Mini-CPB.

No abstract

We have reviewed the results of our experience with the use of miniaturized (Mini-CPB) versus conventional (C-CPB) cardiopulmonary bypass in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). This study included 365 patients who underwent CABG with C-CPB and 101 patients with Mini-CPB. In-hospital mortality was lower in the C-CPB group (1.4% vs. 3.0%, P = 0.38). A better, but not statistically significant, immediate outcome was observed in the C-CPB group as indicated by a shorter length of stay in the intensive care unit as well as a lower incidence of combined adverse end-point. However, this was probably due to significantly higher operative risk in the Mini-CPB group (logistic EuroSCORE: 8.5 +/- 10.0 vs. 4.6 +/- 7.1, P < 0.0001). Seventy-seven propensity score-matched pairs had similar immediate postoperative results after Mini-CPB and C-CPB (30-day mortality: 1.3% vs. 1.3%; stroke: 0% vs. 0%; intensive care unit stay > or = 5 days: 6.5% vs. 9.1%; combined adverse events: 14.3% vs. 11.7%). Mini-CPB achieves similar results to C-CPB in patients undergoing isolated CABG. The potential efficacy of Mini-CPB is expected to be more evident in high-risk patients or in complex cardiac surgery requiring much longer cardiopulmonary perfusion.