Minimally invasive coronary surgery--our experience.

Minimally invasive coronary artery surgery (MICS) has been defined as proceeding myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass. Between January 1996 and August 1997, 19 patients (18 males, 1 female), aged 47-67 years (mean age 57.2 +/- 5.1 years), were operated on. All patients had single vessel coronary disease. In 11 (57.9%) patients, the operation was performed through median sternotomy, in 5 (26.3%) through left anterior small thoracotomy (the LAST procedure). In two (10.5%) patients, the operation began as a LAST, but conversion to median sternotomy was required due to lateroposition of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). In one (5.3%) patient, a minimal procedure was converted in to conventional cardiosurgical procedure with thrombendarterectomy and anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to LAD. Anastomosis of LIMA to LAD was performed in 9 (47.4%) cases and of right internal mammary artery (RIMA) to right coronary artery (RCA) in four (21.1%) cases. In two (10.5%) cases, saphenous vein was used as a graft to RCA, and in four (21.1%) cases, to LAD. One (5.3%) patient died on the fourth postoperative day. One patient developed perioperative myocardial infarction, and one patient was reoperated on due to postoperative bleeding. Permanent pacemaker was implanted in one (5.3%) patient because of slow atrial fibrillation. The ischemic time was 8 to 25 minutes, and the whole procedure was completed in 90-175 minutes. Intensive care unit stay was up to 18 hours in 12 (63.2%) patients. The whole duration of hospitalization took from 7 to 14 days (mean 10.6 +/- 2.4 days). Minimally invasive coronary surgery is a safe and effective method in the surgical treatment of one-vessel coronary artery disease.