**2. Methods**

Searching MEDLINE and Cochrane library using the terms » *OPCAB* «, » *off-pump* «, » *offpump* « OR »MIDCAB«, limited to English language june 23rd, 2010, provided 4788 abstracts that were read manually to find randomized, controlled trials. Two-hundred and twenty nine papers were retrieved and read before 90 papers, reporting results from 61 individual randomized, controlled trials, were identified.
