Combined off-pump coronary surgery and right lung resections through midline sternotomy

Concomitant severe coronary artery disease and lung malignancies are uncomm on. Combining conventional coronary surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass wit h lung resection is still a controversial issue. Conversely, combining off- pump coronary surgery with right lung resections through a midline sternoto my can be an attractive approach. Off-pump coronary surgery avoids the risk s of cardiopulmonary bypass, reduces systemic inflammatory response and doe s not affect the immune system. We report a series of three patients succes sfully operated using this approach. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Su rgeons.