INTRAOPERATIVE ANGIOGRAPHY IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE DIRECT CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-GRAFTING

Intraoperative angiography in minimally invasive direct coronary arter y bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass and in hybrid procedu res is reported. Twelve procedures were performed in a specially desig ned surgical-radiologic suite with a cross-disciplinary organization. In 2 patients the anastomosis was successfully revised on the basis of angiographic findings. In 4 of the 12 patients anastomosis of the lef t internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending coronary art ery performed as a minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass gr afting procedure was combined with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of lesions in other coronary vessels in the same session. Intraoperative angiography allows a reliable diagnosis of an anastomos is or graft failure and prompt and reliable correction, and it allows the combination of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass gr afting and angioplasty in one session. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thor acic Surgeons.