[Two-staged repeat myocardial revascularization through the sternal re-entry and the left thoracotomy with coronary anastomosis under the beating heart].

A case report of serial repeat myocardial revascularization under the beating heart. A 56-year-old, hypertensive and hyperlipidemic male suffered from unstable angina who had undergone primary CABG with saphenous veins 10 years ago. The vein graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was solely patent but had a severely stenotic lesion. The stenotic LAD vein graft fed all coronary circulation. The second operation was approached through the sternal reentry but E-PTFE sheat for pericardial closure at the primary operation tightly adhered to an anterior aspect of the heart with abscess formation. So only gastroepiploic artery (GEA) could be anastomosed to the right coronary artery (RCA) under the beating heart without cardiopulmonary pump (CPB). While the postoperative angiogram showed GEA graft was patent, unstable angina recurred. Then the third operation was performed 2 weeks later through the left thoracotomy under the beating heart with CPB. A new saphenous vein was anastomosed from the descending aorta to LAD. He recovered well without any major complications. Postoperative angiogram showed two new grafts widely patent and he discharged with freedom from angina.