Abstract
Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) represents an advanced form of coronary bypass surgery with a minimum level of surgical trauma involved. It can only be performed in a reproducible manner using a surgical robot. Using five portholes on the chest, the bypass harvesting and grafting processes are carried out endoscopically. The procedure can be performed on the arrested heart using remote access heart-lung machine perfusion and endocardioplegia or on the beating heart using endostabilization and local coronary artery occlusion. To date, all coronary artery territories can be reached, and single- and multivessel TECAB are technically feasible.
Keywords
coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass grafting, minimally invasive surgery, endoscopic surgery, robotic surgery
Introductory Considerations
- ◆
The goal of any minimally invasive procedure is to achieve the least surgical trauma possible and to carry out the intervention in a port-only approach. After unsuccessful attempts to perform endoscopic coronary bypass surgery using long-shafted thoracoscopic instrumentation, the first totally endoscopic coronary bypass grafting (TECAB) was carried out in 1998 using a surgical robot. Since then, TECAB has been further developed from single-vessel to multivessel surgical revascularization and is performed in beating heart and stopped heart versions. TECAB can be combined with percutaneous coronary intervention in so-called integrated or hybrid procedures. A second, third, and fourth generation of surgical robots is available, and procedure-specific robotic instrumentation has improved vision, exposure of target vessels, and overall ergonomic features of the procedure.
1
Patient Selection, Indications, and Contraindications
- ◆
At the current stage, any patient with a clear indication for surgical coronary revascularization can be considered for TECAB. It is, however, highly important to respect the contraindications listed in Box 7.1 . In general, TECAB is elective surgery, and redo procedures are difficult using open techniques and are long and tedious in the endoscopic setting. Any factor that leads to distortion or reduction of the pleural cavities, such as thoracic deformities, a severely enlarged heart, or reduced lung volume, needs to be respected. Wise judgment needs to be applied as to whether to expose patients to a potentially longer pump time, myocardial ischemic time, and overall procedure time. This is especially true for patients with multiple comorbidities. Because TECAB involves a significant technical learning curve, we strongly recommend to start with simpler versions of the operation in low-risk patients.
Absolute Contraindications
Cardiogenic shock and hemodynamic instability
Severely reduced lung function (VC < 2.5 L; FEV 1 < 70% predicted value)
Pulmonary hypertension
Chest deformities (e.g., pectus excavatum)
Multimorbid patients with generalized vasculopathy
Very small, diffusely diseased and calcified target vessels or intramyocardial target vessels in beating heart TECAB
Ascending aortic diameter > 3.8 mm and severe aortoiliac atherosclerosis in endoballoon-arrested heart TECAB
Relative Contraindications
Unstable patients on intraaortic balloon pump (IABP)
Significantly reduced left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 30%)
Significantly enlarged hearts (< 25 mm distance between left ventricle and chest wall)
Previous cardiac surgery
Previous significant chest trauma
Previous chest radiation
FEV 1 , Forced expiratory volume in 1 second; VC, vital capacity.
2
Preoperative Workup
- ◆
All patients should receive the same workup as for open coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The usual battery of preoperative examinations consists of the clinical history and physical examination, basic blood tests (complete blood count [CBC], basic metabolic panel [BMP], international normalized ratio [INR], type, and screen), carotid Doppler studies, ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulmonary function studies, and echocardiography. To address TECAB-specific questions, computed tomography (CT) angiography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis is carried out. The parameters that should be assessed for this procedure by the surgeon, surgical team, and radiologist on this CT are listed in Box 7.2 .
Heart
Size of the heart (cardiothoracic ratio, distance of left ventricular lateral border to chest wall)
Distance between internal mammary arteries and target vessels
Course of target vessels (intramyocardial vs. epicardial)
Size of the pericardial fat pad
Lung
Size of the lung (intrathoracic workspace)
Lung pathology
Pleural pathology (e.g., clear evidence of adhesions, calcifications)
Aorta, Iliofemoral Vessels
Ascending aortic diameter at the level of right pulmonary artery crossing
Grade of aortic atherosclerosis on all levels
Iliofemoral atherosclerosis
Other aortic pathology (e.g., aneurysms, chronic dissections)
3
Anesthesia
- ◆
Basic cardiac anesthesia principles are applied but experienced anesthesiologists with specific skills should lead the case. Box 7.3 lists specific anesthesia aspects. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is necessary for monitoring heart function and regional wall motion, as well as for adequate positioning of the endoballoon in arrested heart TECAB. Good communication with the anesthesia team is key, especially in regard to when to start single-lung ventilation, level of CO 2 inflation pressure, occurrence of leg ischemia if femoral arterial heart-lung machine perfusion is chosen, migration of the endoballoon in arrested heart TECAB, heart rate control and assessment of regional wall motion in beating heart TECAB, and respiratory management after a longer heart-lung machine run under single-lung ventilation.
Double-lumen tube intubation or bronchial blocker
Percutaneous defibrillator patches
Transesophageal echocardiography monitoring throughout the entire procedure
Near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring of cerebral and lower extremity perfusion
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree