Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) grafting is arguably the most thoroughly scrutinized operation in the history of surgery. Although over the last two decades hundreds of randomized controlled trials, propensity-matched analyses and observational studies have compared it with the universally recognized “gold standard” conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) the puzzle of superiority of one or the other remains unsolved and the jury is still out. This special issue of JTD is dedicated to providing an overview of OPCAB exploring the rationale, surgical aspects as well as outcomes, concerns and controversies associated with this strategy. World experts and opinion leaders with clinical experience of OPCAB have provided a thorough review of the current state of opinion and practice as regards this surgical technique. It is expected that this special issue of JTD will enable the readers to determine not only where we are now but also where we need to go with OPCAB.
