Video-assisted coronary artery bypass in patients with preexisting tracheostomy

A new technique allowing revascularization of the left coronary artery thro ugh a small thoracotomy after videoscopic harvesting of both mammary arteri es is proposed in patients with total laryngectomy. This anterior thoracoto my approach, of real interest in patients with a preexisting tracheostomy, needs to be compared with a classic sternotomy in terms of functional recov ery and the prevention of mediastinal sepsis in certain high-risk categorie s of patients (eg, obesity, diabetes) for bilateral mammary artery harvesti ng.