In recent years, coronary revascularization has been dominated by interventional cardiologists. Cardiac surgeons face new challenges as coronary revascularization becomes more complex. The definition of complexity is wide and includes…
Background By definition, hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) encompasses surgical coronary artery bypass, usually of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery with an in situ left internal mammary artery (LIMA)…
Introduction The most widely performed surgical coronary revascularization technique remains the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and reversed long saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass…
History of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery The history of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) goes back to the early 1900s, when surgical procedures to treat angina and myocardial…
Introduction Despite complete revascularization using multiple arterial conduits and optimal myocardial protection, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients are still susceptible to recurrent MACE (major adverse cardiovascular events). Atherosclerotic changes…
Background In the past 25 years significant technological and conceptual advances have occurred in the field of robotic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), from the first experimental works in animals…
Introduction The invasiveness of coronary surgery has remained largely unchanged since its initial introduction. Although sternotomy is still considered the gold standard incision for various cardiac conditions, there is still…
Introduction While percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) have tremendously evolved since the first balloon angioplasty in 1977 , with the development of bare metal stents in 1987, the subsequent introduction of…
General aspects The word anastomosis comes from the combination of two Greek words: Ana and Stoma. Ana is a prefix and means on, upon, or against. A stoma is a…
Introduction The left internal mammary or thoracic artery (LIMA or LITA) to left anterior descending (LAD) anastomosis has been demonstrated to improve survival and freedom from adverse cardiac events with…
