Background: This study was made to compare the average cost of the procedures in coronary artery bypass grafting on beating heart (OPCAB) and in that of stent implantation in patients with isolated stenosis of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD).

Methods: Between November 1, 2000 and March 30, 2001, 17 consequent patients underwent OPCAB operations (14 male, 3 women, the average age 55.6 ± 6.8 year) and stent implantations were performed in 30 patients (23 male, 7 women, the average age 54 ± 7.9 year) at our center.

Results: There was no mortality in both groups. Any complications which may affect the total cost such as perioperative myocardial infarction, revision, cerebral accident, prolonged ventilation, intraaortic balloon pump insertion and arrhythmia were not observed in OPCAB group. Unsuccessful stent implantation was observed in one patient in stent group. Another patient was urgently operated with using cardiopulmonary bypass because of acute coronary occlusion in the stent group. The average cost of total hospital and nonreusable materials were higher in stent group than that of the OPCAB group (p = 0.04). The total cost of transfusion was significantly higher in OPCAB group comparing with in that of the stent group (p = 0.039). Regarding the cost of the complications both groups were similar.

Conclusions: The total average cost of the procedures in OPCAB is much more advantageous than that of stent implantation for isolated stenosis of LAD.

Keywords : Cost, beating heart, stent implantation, left anterior descending artery