Video-assisted thoracoscopic left ventricular thrombectomy and coronary artery revascularization

Advances in video-assisted techniques in the fields of general and thoracic surgery have led to the application of this technology in experimental and clinical cardiac surgery. Visualization of intracardiac anatomy and pathol ogy allows procedures to be performed without violation of ventricular musc le, thus preserving myocardial function. We present the case of a patient w ith a recent myocardial infarction, found to have a large left ventricular thrombus on echocardiogram. By applying thoracoscopic surgical technology w e successfully removed the thrombus during emergency coronary artery revasc ularization and avoided myotomy.