Reports revealed by a study, published in the November 05 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, have proved that while there are no immediate advantages of an 'on pump' bypass surgery over the traditional method, in the long run, the 'on pump' method proves better.

For the sake of the study, nearly 1,000 patients at the 18 Veterans Administration hospitals countrywide received a traditional bypass surgery, and roughly the same number received an 'on pump' surgery, or a bypass surgery performed on a beating heart without the assistance of a heart- lung machine. After observing the two groups for 30 days post surgery, it was confirmed that both had similar outcomes in terms of survival and complications, if any.

The difference, however, surfaced about a year later, where the 'on-pump' surgery receivers seemed to have benefitted more. There were no advantages offered by the traditional bypass surgery in terms of neurological outcomes like memory loss and concentration.

Current statistics say that about 1 in 5 bypass surgeries performed is 'on pump', a figure which could increase once the results of the study are confirmed completely. However, all the patients studied in the research were men, healthy (at risk levels which were either low or moderate) and were younger with an average age of 63. Further studies are needed to confirm if the results would stand true for women as well as older and sicker patients.