The benefits of the internal mammary artery (IMA), as a graft, particularly for the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease, have been demonstrated. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is now an accepted technique of myocardial revascularization. Thoracoscopy and a minimal thoracotomy have been applied to cardiac surgery, however its use has not been well defined. In our approach, we harvested the left or the right IMA thoracoscopically. Following this the left IMA-LAD or right IMA-right coronary artery anastomoses were fashioned, by means of a left or right small anterior thoracotomy on the beating heart without CPB. A double lumen endotracheal tube was used so the lung could be collapsed. Three left or right lateral chest ports of 1.5 cm were made, and the thoracoscope was placed through the initial port, permitting inspection of the thorax. The other ports were used for IMA dissection, using endoscopic instruments (electrocautery, grasping, forceps,...), the side branches were controlled by either cautery or endoscopic clips. When it was possible, the anterior port was extended doing a small left or right anterior thoracotomy, the pericardium was exposed, the IMA was divided and exteriorized through the thoracotomy. After coronary artery control, the bypass graft was carried out on the beating heart without CPB. In certain cases, when myocardial protection was considered to be essential, this was achieved by means of an intracoronary shunt. We have operated on more than 20 patients using this technique with good results in all cases. We believe that with increasing operator experience, this minimally invasive approach will have a major impact on the management of the coronary artery disease patients, with a faster recovery, shorter hospitalization, and certainly less cost.
Myocardial revascularization; Thoracic arteries; Coronary vessels; Thoracoscopy; Surgery, minimally invasive