Left ventricular geometry and cardiac function during minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting.
BACKGROUND
This investigation was designed to study the changes in function and geometry of the left ventricle during two critical steps of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass procedures: placement of an epicardial stabilizer and occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery.


METHODS
Between February 1997 and January 1998, 28 patients underwent bypass grafting with the left internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery (minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass technique). Transesophageal echocardiography was used for determination of fractional area change and to assess left ventricular (LV) diameters in two dimensions and at the apex.


RESULTS
Placement of the epicardial stabilizer resulted in a small decrease in LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions; cardiac function remained unchanged. Subsequent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery caused a moderate decline in cardiac index and fractional area change, an increase in LV diameters, and the development of hypokinetic segments within the LV myocardium.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of an epicardial stabilizer provides a safe and effective means to stabilize the operative field during minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass procedures. Monitoring of LV function by transesophageal echocardiography enhances the safety of such procedures and is highly recommended.
Division of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany. m.jurmann@t-online.de
M J
MJ
Jurmann
A K
AK
Menon
L
L
Haeberle
S
S
Salehi-Gilani
G
G
Ziemer
D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left