Technical challenges in totally endoscopic robotic coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Robotic technology is a prerequisite for performance of totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting. During the implementation phase of totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass, surgeon-related technical difficulties might be encountered. It was the aim of this study to assess the incidence of these challenges, to find risk factors, and to describe clinical results associated with technical errors. METHODS: From October 2001 through October 2004, 40 patients received robotically assisted totally endoscopic left internal thoracic artery grafts to the left anterior descending coronary artery system with the da Vinci telemanipulation device. All patients underwent remote access cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion through groin access, and all anastomoses were performed on the arrested heart. RESULTS: Undesirable technical events of various grades occurred in 20 (50%) of 40 patients: bleeding from a port hole in 3 (8%), left internal thoracic artery damage in 3 (8%), epicardial lesion in 3 (8%), remote access perfusion problems in 9 (23%), bleeding from the anastomosis in 4 (10%), and anastomotic stenosis in 2 (5%). There was no hospital mortality. The following differences were noted between patients without technical difficulties (group 1) and those in whom problems occurred (group 2): total operative time of 314 minutes (260-540 minutes) versus 418 minutes (270-690 minutes; P = .007), ventilation time of 6 hours (0-26 hours) versus 14 hours (0-278 hours; P = .004), intensive care unit stay of 20 hours (11-70 hours) versus 44 hours (16-336 hours; P=.183), hospital stay of 7 days (4-13 days) versus 8 days (5-21 days; P = .038), and cumulative freedom from angina at 36 months of 93% versus 100% (P = .317). CONCLUSION: We conclude that technical difficulties during totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting translate into markedly increased operative time, moderately prolonged postoperative ventilation time, and slightly increased hospital stay. Short-term survival and freedom from angina, however, do not seem to be compromised.

Ongoing procedure development in robotically assisted totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB).

BACKGROUND: Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) using robotics requires stepwise introduction into a heart surgery program. It is the aim of this study to evaluate the state of procedure development after continued application of telemanipulation techniques in the clinical setting. We also sought to assess perioperative and intermediate term clinical results after robotically assisted CABG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 2001 to March 2005, robotically assisted CABG using the daVinci system was carried out in 107 patients with single and multi-vessel coronary artery disease. The following procedures were performed: robotically assisted endoscopic left internal mammary artery (LIMA) harvesting and completion of the procedure as conventional CABG, MIDCAB, or OPCAB (n = 22), robotically assisted suturing of LIMA-to-LAD anastomoses during conventional CABG (n = 28), TECAB on the arrested heart using remote access perfusion (n = 48), TECAB on the beating heart using an endostabilizer (n = 8), takedown of adhesions (TECAB intended) (n = 1). RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 0% and cumulative risk adjusted mortality reached 1.6 lives saved versus EuroSCORE predictions. Undesirable surgical events (USE) such as conversion, on table revision, or postoperative revision procedures occurred in 34 out of 107 (32%) patients. Median ventilation time and ICU stay, however, were 11(0-278) hours and 21(11-389) hours, respectively. Cumulative 3 years survival was 100% and freedom from angina at 3 years was 97%. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that despite being surgically challenging robotically assisted coronary artery surgery can be implemented with acceptable safety. TECAB procedures have reached a reproducible state. Perioperative mortality after robotically assisted CABG may be lower than predicted. Intermediate term clinical results are very satisfactory.

Off pump coronary artery bypass grafting in EuroSCORE high and low risk patients.

OBJECTIVE: Off pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) is claimed to reduce the operative morbidity and mortality in high risk patients. It was the aim of the study to compare the outcome of OPCAB patients classified as high- and low risk according to the EuroSCORE. METHODS: Medical records of patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n=126) at our institution between 1998 and 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. We classified them into two subgroups: low risk (EuroSCORE < or = 5, n=72, male 58 (81%), female 14 (19%), age 61 (37-78) years) and high risk (EuroSCORE >5, n=54, male 32 (59%), female 22 (41%), age 73 (42-83) years). RESULTS: EuroSCORE high risk patients showed significantly higher rates of blood transfusion (70 vs 31%; P<0.0001), intraaortic balloon pump insertion (16 vs 3%; P=0.013), atrial fibrillation (43 vs 22%; P=0.014), and renal failure (13 vs 3%; P=0.028). ICU length of stay was significantly longer in the high risk group (25 vs 22 h; P=0.002). There was also a higher perioperative mortality in the high risk group (9 vs 0%; P=0.008). CONCLUSION: From these data we conclude that using off pump coronary artery bypass grafting results as predicted by the EuroSCORE can be achieved. OPCAB is safe for low risk patients. Major complications seem to occur preferentially in the high risk group.

Extraanatomical coronary artery bypass grafts on the beating heart for management of the severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta.

BACKGROUND: Crossclamping a severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta carries a significant risk of stroke in coronary artery bypass grafting. Besides other techniques aortic no touch concepts are increasingly applied for management of this problem. METHODS: Out of 407 patients undergoing epiaortic scanning during coronary artery bypass grafting 38 (9.3%) exhibited severe ascending aortic atherosclerosis. 22 of these patients (18 male, 4 female, age 72 (57-79) years, Parsonnet Score 11 (0-18), Euro Score 8 (2-13), McSPI Stroke Risk Index 6 (1-30) %) were operated on using a beating heart and aortic no touch technique. All patients received at least one internal mammary artery (IMA) in situ graft and additional extraanatomical bypass conduits: venous Y-graft from the IMA (n=14), arterial Y-graft from the IMA (n=3), vein graft from the axillary artery (n=3), vein graft from the IMA stump (n=2), vein graft from the innominate artery (n=2). RESULTS: No stroke occurred. The rate of perioperative myocardial infarction (CKMB rt; 50 U/l) was 5/22. Median ICU length of stay was 54 (15-1245) h. Hospital mortality was 2/22. Pre- and postoperative angina class (CCSC) were 3.3 +/- 0.9 and 1.4 +/- 0.9 respectively (p<0.001). After a median follow up period of 8 months 3 deaths, one stroke, and one myocardial infarction occurred. On 3D multislice CT scan reconstructions which were performed in 13 patients during the first postoperative year all IMA grafts to the LAD and 11 out of 13 extraanatomical vein grafts were shown to be patent. CONCLUSION: Performance of beating heart extraanatomical coronary artery bypass grafts for management of a heavily diseased ascending aorta can result in a very low stroke rate despite a considerable stroke risk. The complexity of the procedures may be reflected by a relatively high rate of perioperative myocardial infarctions. Perioperative mortality as well as short term patency of extraanatomical bypass grafts seem to be acceptable.