title: Video-assisted minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a growing interest in cardiac surgery towards minimally invasive approach to coronary bypass operations without cardiopulmonary bypass.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 1995 to March 1997, 41 patients underwent a single left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) coronary grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass through a small left anterior thoracotomy (MIDCABG). The mean age was 61.2+/-8.7 years (range 43-77 years), 28 patients. were male (68.2%) and the redo rate was 4.8% (2/41). In all patients the coronary artery disease involved the LAD, which was occluded in seven patients (17.1%). Thirty-eight patients (96.2%) selected for MIDCABG had a monovascular disease on LAD not suitable for percutaneous coronary angioplasty; two (4.8%) a bivascular disease, and one (2.4%) a trivascular disease. Skin incision was performed in the 4th anterior intercostal space from the left parasternal line for a 10.5 cm length on average. The LIMA harvesting was partially video-assisted by thoracoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LAD temporary occlusion was achieved with two double 5/0 polypropilene round-LAD sutures. The mean LAD ischemic time was 22+/-8 min (range 4-35 min). No thoracotomy procedure was changed into a sternotomy approach. We had one (2.4%) perioperative AMI; two patients (4.8%) were reoperated for bleeding. All patients underwent a postoperative angiographic reinvestigation within 1 month after surgery. All anastomoses were perfectly patent but two (4.8%). One patient was reoperated via a sternotomy access recycling the LIMA graft, the other one underwent successful PTCA. All patients also underwent an early and mid-term (6 months after surgery) echo-Doppler study of the LIMA flow and patency. At follow-up, performed at a mean of 8.7 months (range 1-23) after discharge, all patients were alive; no one experienced recurrence of angina. All patients also performed a mid-term negative treadmill stress test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIDCABG is, in selected patients, reliable and safe, and offers encouraging early and mid-term clinical results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Milan, Centro Cardiologico 1I. Monzino', IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antona
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pompilio
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lotto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Matteo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agrifoglio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biglioli
mesh_terms: D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency