Technical adjuncts in beating heart surgery comparison of MIDCAB to off-pump sternotomy: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The technical aspects of minimal invasive surgery are discussed, together with a comparison of off-pump MIDCAB with off-pump sternotomy, with special respect to outcomes of death, infarct and anastomoses. METHODS: Technical aspects of beating heart surgery are described under the headings: Trauma; Access; Stabilisation; Ischaemia; Haemostasis; Suturing; and Circulatory support. Data from papers and meetings on minimal invasive surgery were collated to September 1998 and correlated with the unit of origin. Percentage figures were back calculated to provide an actual number from which a new data base was obtained relevant to the reporting incidence. For statistical analysis a Chi squared test with Yates correction was used. RESULTS: Sixty-three centres reported 3304 cases of MIDCAB surgery (M) and 21 centres reported over 3060 cases of off-pump surgery through a sternotomy (S). There was no difference in early or late death rates between the two groups (1.6% M:2.2% S). There was a higher infarct rate with MIDCAB (2.9% M: 1.45% S; P < 0.03). The occlusion and stenosis rates for MIDCAB were 3.9 and 6.6% whilst for sternotomy off-pump they were 4.9 and 1.4%. The stenosis difference was significant at the P < 0.001 level. A combined occlusion and stenosis rate showed a higher incidence with MIDCAB (10.5%), than sternotomy 6.4% (P < 0.08). Four major series showed comparative data before and after stabiliser usage in MIDCABs. The stenosis rate was significantly reduced with stabilisation from 9.6 to 3.7% (P < 0.002) as was the combined occlusion and stenosis rate from 16 to 5.0% (P < 0.0001). In the total series there was no significant difference in length of stay (4.6 days), incidence of atrial fibrillation (9%), or between conversion to sternotomy(MIDCAB group) or to bypass (sternotomy group) (5%) between the two groups (M and S). Grafting the right coronary artery by MIDCAB produced worse results than for the left anterior descending artery (LAD). CONCLUSIONS: There is an important failure rate with beating heart surgery; stabilisers reduce this risk and are essential tools in both MIDCAB and beating heart surgery and encourages the further use of minimally invasive approaches.

Minimally invasive coronary revascularization through parasternal incisions without cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: We report the results of minimally invasive coronary revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass through miniparasternal incisions. METHODS: This procedure was performed in 40 patients with disease in the left anterior descending, first diagonal, and right coronary arteries. After a 5- to 7-cm left vertical parasternal incision and removal of two costal cartilages, the left internal mammary artery was harvested up to the 2nd rib. The left anterior descending artery was occluded by means of two polydioxanone monofilament sutures. The anastomosis was performed with one 7-0 Prolene suture while the heart was beating. In 4 cases the left internal mammary artery was used as a sequential graft to the left anterior descending artery and the first diagonal artery. In 14 cases the right coronary artery was grafted with the right internal mammary artery through a right parasternal incision. Postoperatively, 95% of the patients underwent angiographic assessment of the anastomoses. RESULTS: We performed 52 anastomoses (34 to the left anterior descending artery, 4 to the first diagonal artery, and 14 to the right coronary artery). The mortality was 0% and the morbidity included postoperative bleeding (5%), acute renal failure (2.5%), atrial fibrillation (2.5%), and wound infection (5%). No patient had ventricular arrhythmias or circulatory problems during or after the operation. Two patients (5%) with right internal mammary artery-to-right coronary artery grafting had graft failure that required a redo operation. CONCLUSIONS: Small vertical parasternal incisions may be an alternative approach for single and multiple coronary revascularization, with a low incidence of intraoperative cardiac complications. The application of this approach to the right coronary artery, however, carries additional technical difficulties, and careful patient selection may be required to achieve optimal results.

Circulatory arrest in a reoperation for brachiocephalic arterial occlusive disease.

We report a patient with multiple brachiocephalic arterial occlusive disease who suffered failure of a bifurcated aorto-carotid artery graft. Profound hypothermic circulatory arrest provided adequate cerebral protection during redo aorto-brachiocephalic arterial grafting.