PURPOSE--To report our experience of 12 years of myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and to discuss its expanding surgical indications. METHODS--This technique was employed in 1090 patients, between September/81 and April/93, corresponding to 17.4 per cent of all revascularized patients. Regarding gender, male patients were the majority (73.7 per cent) and ages ranged from 28 to 86 year-old (mean 57). Chronic coronary insufficiency was the main indication (69.4 per cent) and 18.9 per cent of our global experience were operated on during acute ischemia. The average number of grafts per patient was 1.6 and internal mammary artery was utilized in 60.1 per cent of patients. Left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery were the coronary arteries most often treated. RESULTS--Our hospital mortality rate was 2.5 per cent (28/1090) although it was 7 per cent for patients over 70 years. The most common cause of death was cardiogenic shock after failed angioplasty. Postoperative complications included AMI in 4.8 per cent, arrhythmias in 5.5 per cent and pulmonary in 3.2 per cent. Mean of any type of blood derivate utilization was 0.28 units/patients. CONCLUSION--Myocardial revascularization without CPB is a valid alternative in a selected cohort of patients and it is performed with low morbidity and mortality. Nowadays it represents an excellent tactical option for high-risk patients and in failed angioplasties