Ten RCTs (2,018 participants) were included. Five studies scored 2 for quality, four scored 3 and one scored 5. Length of follow-up ranged from one to 3.8 years.
There were no differences between OPCAB and CCAB for mortality (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.77), stroke (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.47), revascularisation (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.72 to 2.67) and myocardial infarction (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.17).
Subgroup analyses showed similar results. Sensitivity analyses showed no association between trial quality and outcomes. There were no unpublished studies.