Abstract: AIM:To analyze the difference of the early outcome between conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCABG) and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). METHODS: A total of 5325 CABG consecutive cases in our hospital from October 2003 to January 2008 were divided into OPCABG group (n=4 982) and CCABG group (n=343). Early outcomes of all patients were analyzed and risk-adjusted mortality and incidence rates of complications were computed using a predictive equation derived by stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: The mortality in the OPCABG group (1.7%) was much lower than in CCABG group (6.7%, P<0.01). In OPCABG group, postoperative ventilation time (20±15 vs. 31±31 h, P<0.01), length of stay in intensive care unit (28±26 vs. 48±47 h, P<0.01) and hospitalization time (13±9 vs. 16±11 days, P<0.01) were shorter, and the incidence of complications such as hemostasis (1.6 vs. 6.1%, P<0.01) and renal insufficiency (0.8 vs. 2.6%, P<0.01) was lower. After comorbidity adjustment, the mortality rate in CCABG group remained 6% higher than in OPCABG group, and the rate of complications in CCABG group was slightly higher compared with that in OPCABG group. CONCLUSION: Compared with CCABG, OPCABG achieves better early outcome but the medium- and long-term results need to be further followed up.