Totally endoscopic myocardial revascularization: an experimental study.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of performing totally endoscopic myocardial revascularization through the abdominal cavity.


RESULTS
The right gastroepiploic artery was harvested endoscopically through three troacars in 46 human cadavers. Then, a 5-cm hole was made in the diaphragm to expose the right coronary artery. With the help of two vacuum pods, we fixed a site of the right coronary artery and made a right gastroepiploic artery-right coronary artery anastomosis. In 20 cases, continuous Prolene suture was used, and in 26 experiments, we applied a sutureless technique. Twenty-three anastomosis were patent.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the low patency rate, the transabdominal approach of totally endoscopic bypass grafting is promising and demands further investigation.
Vlassov
G P
GP
Sclifosovsky Scientific Emergency Center, Moscow, Russia.
Travine
N O
NO
Deyneka
K S
KS
Ermolov
A S
AS
Belinskiy
M B
MB
Klimovskiy
S D
SD
Zhuravlev
I V
IV
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D001158:Arteries / Q000637:transplantation; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D013525:Surgical Instruments