title: Facilitated exposure of the internal mammary artery in minimally invasive direct-vision CABG.
abstract: A method is described to facilitate harvesting of the mammary artery in minimally invasive direct-vision coronary artery bypass grafting using a 10-cm anterior thoracotomy. Hoisting of the anterior thoracic wall with a modified retractor allows good exposure. Harvesting the mammary artery without the use of endoscopic tools was successful in all 10 cases.
authors.affiliation: Heart Lung Institute, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Utrecht University Hospital, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mansvelt Beck
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Gründeman
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bredée
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000379:methods*; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*