title: Single vessel revascularization with beating heart techniques -- minithoracotomy or sternotomy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the best surgical approach in off-pump single vessel revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 256 patients a single left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to LAD bypass was performed with beating heart techniques through a left anterior minithoracotomy (minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), n=129) or a full sternotomy (off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), n=127).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the OPCAB group, significantly more severe comorbidities (P=0.001) and redo-operations were noted (P<0.001). Conversion to sternotomy or CPB was necessary in five MIDCAB patients and one OPCAB patient. No cerebrovascular accident was seen in both groups. There was no hospital death in MIDCAB- and two deaths in OPCAB procedures (P=ns). There was a significant reduction in time of surgery (P=0.028) and coronary occlusion (P=0.009) in the OPCAB group. No differences in postoperative ventilation time, ICU stay and length of hospital stay were recorded between groups. Wound infections occurred in six MIDCAB patients (4.7%) and one OPCAB patient (0.8%). Early postoperative reoperation due to graft failure was necessary in three patients after MIDCAB and two patients after OPCAB (P=ns). Confirmed by angiography, the early graft patency rate was 96 and 98%, respectively (P=ns).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both beating heart techniques showed good results with low hospital mortality, low early complications and comparable angiographic results. Nevertheless, MIDCAB is a challenging technique as demonstrated by the longer times of surgery and coronary occlusion with a tendency towards a higher risk of conversion and wound infection. Thus, this technique should only be performed in selected patients with favourable coronary anatomy. Through a sternotomy approach, single vessel revascularization can be performed safely off-pump even in high-risk patients.
authors: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81366 Munich, Germany. cdetter@hch.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Detter
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Reichenspurner
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Boehm
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Thalhammer
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Schütz
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Reichart
mesh_terms: D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*