title: Conversion to sternotomy during sternal-sparing coronary artery surgery.
abstract: Conversion to a full sternotomy may complicate up to 1.8% of the sternal-sparing coronary artery surgery. Left internal mammary artery injury and anastomotic problems are the common causes. The purpose of this article is to retrospectively review the outcomes of six patients that required conversion to sternotomy during minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass and also to point out technical aspects in order to avoid such a complication.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cardiac Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, MI, Italy. giuseppe.raffa78@gmail.com
authors.forename: Giuseppe M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Settepani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000293:injuries; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome