Communication between a nongrafted left internal mammary artery and left anterior descending coronary artery following saphenous vein bypass grafting

A case is described in which a pericardial branch of a nongrafted left internal mammary artery communicated directly with the distal left arterior descending artery, following saphenous vein bypass grafting. This type of collateralization following coronary artery bypass surgery seems to be very rare, and perhaps could protect the myocardium from severe ischemia. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 40:170–172, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

小切口与胸骨正中切口在冠状动脉旁路移植手术中的比较

目的:比较左胸小切口冠状动脉旁路移植手术(MIDCAB)与常规正中切口冠状动脉旁路移植手术(CABG)的临床效果。方法:2012年10月至2015年12月,采用左胸小切口取左乳内动脉(LIMA)心脏不停跳CABG术45例和常规正中开胸CABG手术50例。比较术前基本情况、手术时间、出血量、术后疼痛评分、围术期心肌梗死、死亡等指标;所有患者均在术后1年时进行随访,比较术后1年的吻合口再狭窄、心绞痛、心肌梗死、脑卒中及死亡等重要终点事件发生率。结果:入选两组患者术前一般情况无显著差别。两组患者均成功施行不停跳CABG手术,围术期均无死亡。MIDCA组具有手术时间短,围术期出血少等优点。但MIDCAB组术后疼痛程度较常规正中切口CABG组大。两组在围术期心肌梗死发生、切口愈合不良发生率上差异无统计学意义。随访1年时,两组患者在心绞痛、心肌梗死、死亡、脑卒中、吻合口再狭窄等终点事件差异均无统计学意义。结论:MIDCAB术具有与传统正中切口手术一样的近中期效果,MIDCAB术安全可行,值得推广。     

Frequency of early occlusion and stenosis in a left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery bypass graft after surgery through a median sternotomy on conventional bypass: benchmark for minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty exists regarding the frequency of early occlusion when the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) through a sternotomy with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The issue has gained importance for comparison with less invasive surgical approaches in which operative exposure may be limited and graft anastomosis more difficult. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were analyzed from the International Multicenter Aprotinin Graft Patency Experience (IMAGE) trial in which 617 patients underwent conventional CABG of the LAD with a LIMA between April 1993 and May 1995. Coronary angiography was performed a mean of 10.8 days postoperatively. Patients were randomized to receive intraoperative aprotinin, an inhibitor of several serine proteinases, or placebo. Because no differences existed in patency rates of LIMA grafts between patients who received aprotinin and placebo, both groups were analyzed collectively. On coronary angiography, the LIMA was widely patent (<50% stenosis) in 561 patients (91%), had > or = 50% and <99% stenosis in 48 patients (7.8%), and was occluded in 8 patients (1.3%). Therefore, the LIMA was patent in 609 patients (98.7%). Conclusions-In the IMAGE trial, the largest and most contemporary early angiographic analysis of CABG available, early patency of the LIMA was >98% when anastomosed to the LAD. These data provide an important benchmark for less invasive surgical approaches in which the LIMA is anastomosed to the LAD.     

Assessment of left internal mammary artery graft patency and flow reserve after minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass.

Despite its merits, minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB) has been criticized for variable left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft patency rates, prompting the frequent use of postoperative LIMA angiography. Noninvasive transthoracic Doppler interrogation of LIMA grafts has recently been shown to have utility for assessing patency and flow reserve after conventional bypass surgery, but data after MIDCAB has been limited. The objective of this study was to assess LIMA graft anatomy and physiology in 54 patients after MIDCAB using angiography and noninvasive LIMA Doppler imaging. The right internal mammary artery (RIMA) was studied as a control. LIMA flow reserve in response to adenosine was evaluated in a subgroup of 18 randomly chosen patients with patent grafts. LIMA angiographic patency was 93%. Forty-four patients (81%) had obtainable LIMA Doppler data. Patent grafts had a diastolic dominant flow pattern with a peak diastolic/systolic velocity ratio of 1.3 +/- 0.6 and a percent diastolic time-velocity integral (TVI) of 70 +/- 11%. These data were significantly different than the RIMA control values of 0.2 +/- 0.1 and 30 +/- 10%, respectively (p <0.05). Occluded grafts had absent flow or a systolic dominant pattern. Adenosine-induced increases in LIMA peak diastolic velocity from 48 +/- 20 to 105 +/-28 cm/s (p <0.05 vs baseline) and diastolic TVI from 21 +/- 10 to 37 +/- 19 cm (p <0.05 vs baseline), yielding adenosine/baseline ratios of 2.4 +/- 0.9 and 2.0 +/- 0.7, respectively, which was consistent with normal flow reserve. The diastolic flow velocity reserve response was inversely related to baseline diastolic flow (r = -0.69). In conclusion, MIDCAB can be associated with a high rate of LIMA potency and favorable physiologic Doppler flow patterns. Correlation of these findings to long-term patient outcome after MIDCAB is warranted.     

Robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting improves short-term outcomes compared with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting

Background

Robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafts (RACAB) utilizing the da Vinci surgical system are increasingly used and allow the surgeon to conveniently harvest internal mammary arteries (IMAs). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of off-pump RACAB and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) in the short and medium term.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 132 patients with single- or multiple-vessel coronary artery disease who underwent minimally invasive off-pump CABG (OPCAB) between May 2009 and May 2014. The patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach, MIDCAB and RACAB group. The anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was performed as regular OPCAB through the incision on the beating heart using regular stabilization devices (Genzyme Corporation). The preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, and follow-up data, including major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), were compared.

Results

The preoperative data were similar. RACAB significantly shorten the intensive care unit (ICU) stay and postoperative compared with the MIDCAB group (P<0.05). There were 12 (19.7%) patients treated with a two-stage hybrid procedure in the MIDCAB group and 34 (47.9%) patients in the RACAB group (P=0.001). Thirty-day mortality was 1.6% in the MIDCAB group. There were 9 (14.7%) MIDCAB patients and 2 (2.8%) RACAB patients (P=0.013) that developed new arrhythmia. The two groups showed comparable mid-term survival (P=0.246), but the MACCEs were significantly different (P=0.038).

Conclusions

RACAB may be a valuable alternative for patients requiring single or simple multi-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Although the mid-term mortality outcomes are similar, RACAB improves short-term outcomes and mid-term MACCE-free survival compared with MIDCAB.     

Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting versus stenting for patients with proximal left anterior descending coronary artery disease

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of stenting and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) in patients with proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease. The Patency, Outcome, Economics of Minimally invasive direct coronary bypass (POEM) study demonstrated that MIDCAB had similar safety and long-term efficacy for LAD revascularization compared with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting. Although LAD stenting is superior to conventional balloon angioplasty, whether it is comparable to MIDCAB is not known. We identified a matched population of 429 consecutive patients with 1-vessel disease who underwent elective proximal LAD stenting and compared their clinical outcomes with those of the 152 patients in the MIDCAB group of the POEM study. The in-hospital event rate was similar in both groups, except for a shorter length of hospital stay with LAD stenting compared with MIDCAB (2.68 vs 4.07 days, p <0.0001). At 6-month follow-up, the incidence of death and Q-wave myocardial infarction or that of cerebrovascular accident was not significantly different between these 2 groups. However, target vessel revascularization was significantly higher with LAD stenting than MIDCAB (13.3% vs 6.6%, p = 0.045). In the subgroup of patients without diabetes, all clinical events were similar in both groups, and the benefit of a shorter hospital stay associated with stenting was maintained. Compared with MIDCAB, LAD stenting is associated with higher repeat revascularization rates but offers the advantage of shorter hospitalization. For nondiabetics with proximal LAD disease, stenting may be the revascularization strategy of choice.     

Cortical blindness after left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending coronary artery graft angiography

We describe a case of transient cortical blindness following internal mammary artery to left anterior descending coronary artery graft angiography. This dramatic, infrequent, and self-limiting complication so far has not been described in the cardiovascular literature. In the present era of internal mammary artery use for the left coronary artery grafting, the angiographer should be familiar with the diagnosis, prevention, and management of complications previously seen mostly during the posterior cerebral circulation angiography.     

Directional coronary atherectomy plus stent implantation vs. left internal mammary artery bypass grafting for isolated proximal stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

The aim of this study was to compare the short- (< 30 days) and long-term (> or = 30 days) clinical outcomes of left internal mammary artery bypass grafting (LIMA-LAD) and directional coronary atherectomy plus stent implantation (DCA + stent) in the treatment of isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary (LAD) lesions. One hundred and twenty-six patients underwent LIMA-LAD and 132 consecutive patients underwent DCA + stenting. The primary endpoint was the incidence of short- and long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE); the secondary endpoints included any periprocedural events and long-term target vessel revascularization (TVR). We found no significant between-treatment difference in the occurrence of short-term MACE, and the long-term MACE rate per 100 person-years was 3.0 in the LIMA-LAD group and 4.6 in the DCA + stent group. After 5-year follow-up, 79% of the patients in the DCA + stent group and 89% of those in the LIMA-LAD group were still MACE-free. The risk of any periprocedural events was six times lower in the DCA + stent group, and the risk of TVR was six times higher. We conclude that both procedures lead to good short- and long-term follow-up results in isolated proximal LAD disease. As fewer periprocedural events and more TVRs occur after DCA + stenting than after LIMA-LAD, they can be considered valuable alternatives to each other.     

Ministernotomy for minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting

Background Through a ministernotomy ＂J shaped approach, left internal mammary artery （LIMA） bypass grafting to the left anterior descending artery （LAD） can be performed safely off-pump. To achieve a complete revascularization, percutaneous coronary interventions （PCI） with drug eluting stent implantation to other coronary arteries was used. We reported outcomes of the treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease with minimally invasive coronary artery bypass （MICAB） and PCI. Methods Between January 2009 and Dec 2012, 14 patients （11 males, 3 females, mean age was 64.8 _ 10.1 years. Two-vessel disease account for 35.7% （5/14） of these patients, three-vessel disease 64.2% （9/14） （Table 1）. All patients underwent a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting via mini-sternotomy ＂J＂ shaped approach. Seven patients were followed by PCI, 7 for obtuse marginal circumflex, 5 for right coronary artery （RCA）. Angiographic assessment of graft patency was performed in all patients during the PCI procedure. The clinical follow-up period lasts from 11-24 months. Results The in-hospital mortality was 0%. There was neither conversion to a full median sternotomy nor intraoperative complications. Ventilation time was 6.6 ＋_ 4.1 h. Blood loss ranged 341 ＋_ 78.8 mL. ICU stay ranged 22.3 _ 12.8 h. Hospital postoperative stay lasted for 6.5 ＋ 1.6 days. Prior to PCI patients showed 100% patent left internal mammary artery. One patient had mediastinitis （Tables 2-3）. Rate of freedom from cardiac reintervention during the follow-up period was 92.8% （13/14）. Conclusions The inferior J-shaped sternotomy is simple, reproducible, and the safest technique for performing minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery. MICAB ＋ PCI is also safe, feasible and efficacious.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent implantation vs. minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) in patients with left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (DESs) versus minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgery in the management of patients with proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery stenosis. Until recent years, despite the advantages of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with bare metal stent implantation, such as shorter hospital stays and recovery time, MIDCAB showed better results with regard to the need for repeated intervention in the target vessel than PTCA with proximal LAD lesions. Symptomatic patients (n = 189) were randomly assigned to DES group (n = 119) and MIDCAB group (n = 70). Patients with an isolated high-grade lesion (stenosis of > or = 70% of the luminal diameter) in the proximal LAD coronary artery (from the ostium to the first diagonal branch) were included in this study. During the 6-month follow-up period, 1.7% (n = 2) in the DES group needed repeated revascularization procedures for target lesion revascularization compared with 5.9% (n = 4) in the MIDCAB group (P = 0.196). The rates of death and myocardial infarction were similar in both groups [DES 0.0% (n = 0) vs. MIDCAB 2.9% (n = 2), P = 0.135; DES 1.7% (n = 2) vs. MIDCAB 2.9% (n = 2), P = 0.627; respectively] during 6 months of follow-up. In-hospital length of stay was significantly shorter in the DES group compared with the MIDCAB group (5.8 +/- 2.1 days vs. 8.9 +/- 2.6 days; P = 0.001). DES implantation and MIDCAB surgery showed similar rates of myocardial infarction, the need for repeated revascularization, and death during 6 months of follow-up. However, DES implantation resulted in lower average number of hospital stays and similar postoperative complications.     

Left coronary dominance due to direct continuation of the left anterior descending to form the posterior descending coronary artery.

Continuation of the left anterior descending to form the posterior descending artery is rarely observed. We describe the first patient with this variant in whom the coronary artery extends beyond the crux, supplying branches to the atrioventricular node and both atrioventricular grooves.     

Pedicled right internal mammary artery for reoperative off-pump revascularization of left anterior descending coronary artery

In situ right internal mammary artery is the graft of choice in reoperative off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, as well as in primary on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, unless the vessel has been used previously. However, there are not enough data about postoperative angiographic findings of the in situ right internal mammary artery in reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting with the off-pump technique. From September 1993 through January 2004, we reviewed the postoperative course and the graft patency of 12 selected patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting reoperation only for revascularization of the left anterior descending artery, by means of a pedicled right internal mammary artery graft. All patients were evaluated clinically and by postoperative coronary angiography. There were no early or late deaths during the mean follow-up period of 33.08 +/- 30.05 months (range, 1-77 months). The mean interval from the 1st operation to the 2nd operation was 74.1 +/- 57.01 months (range, 4.5-171 months). Postoperative coronary angiograms of all patients showed a 100% patency rate for both in situ grafts and composite grafts. We suggest that use of the in situ right internal mammary artery in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is a safe and reliable option for revascularizing the left anterior descending artery, especially in reoperation.     

The hybrid approach to coronary artery revascularization: minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass with percutaneous coronary intervention

In the past decade, new developments in cardiology and cardiac surgery have begun to offer patients a variety of new, less invasive options for the treatment of coronary artery disease. One such option is the hybrid approach to coronary artery revascularization. This combines minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the remaining diseased coronary arteries. This approach, as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass surgery, retains the benefit of internal mammary artery bypass to the LAD, accomplished with a minimally invasive technique, substitutes PCI for saphenous vein grafts as treatment for low-grade lesions of other coronary arteries, and may provide a maximally beneficial outcome for many patients. Preliminary outcomes of patients receiving the hybrid approach have been strikingly positive. This report highlights the rationale for the development of this procedure, patient selection, results, and future applications of this emerging method of treating coronary artery disease.     

Comparison of medicine alone, coronary angioplasty, and left internal mammary artery-coronary artery bypass for one-vessel proximal left anterior descending coronary artery disease

Despite the deleterious and sometimes catastrophic consequences of proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion, there is a paucity of data to guide the treatment of patients with such disease. Our aim was to describe outcomes with medical therapy, angioplasty, or left internal mammary artery (LIMA) bypass grafting in patients with 1-vessel, proximal LAD disease. We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from 1,188 patients first presenting only with proximal LAD disease at 1 center over 9 years. We assessed the rates of death, acute myocardial infarction, and repeat intervention by initial treatment over a median 5.7 years of follow-up. Patients undergoing angioplasty or LIMA bypass were more often men and had progressive or unstable angina; those receiving medical therapy had a lower median ejection fraction. Both revascularization procedures offered slightly better adjusted survival versus medicine (hazard ratio for angioplasty, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.60 to 1.11; hazard ratio for bypass, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 1.23). Bypass, but not angioplasty, was associated with significantly fewer composite end point events (death, infarction, or reintervention, p <0.0001), and angioplasty was associated with a higher composite event rate than bypass or medical therapy (p <0.0001 and P = 0.0003, respectively). The initial advantages of bypass and medicine over angioplasty diminished over time; angioplasty became more advantageous than medicine after 1 year (p = 0.05) and not significantly different from bypass. Treatment of 1-vessel, proximal LAD disease with medicine, angioplasty, or LIMA bypass resulted in comparable adjusted survival. However, LIMA bypass alone reduced the long-term incidence of infarctions and repeat procedures.     

骨骼化乳内动脉在不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术中的应用研究

目的:总结将骨骼化乳内动脉(IMA)应用于不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCABG)的临床结效果和经验。方法:选取从2015年7月至2016年6月期间,我科室60例包括冠状动脉前降支在内的多支冠状动脉狭窄需进行OPCABG,并经术前超声检查锁骨下动脉和IMA正常的患者。随机分为两组;A组:应用骨骼化方法获取左IMA,并与前降支行端侧吻合进行血运重建;B组:应用带蒂获取左IMA与前降支吻合进行血运重建。两组均应用静脉复合全身麻醉,取胸部正中切口,非体外循环下施行手术。结果:远端吻合口数两组分别为(2.6±0.5)个/例和(2.7±0.5)个/例,无胸骨感染病例;院内死亡1例,病死率1.7%,为带蒂方法采集左IMA组,死亡原因为围术期心肌梗死;术后发生并发症4例,每组各2例,发生率6.7%,其中发生肺部感染2例,低心排血量综合征2例,均通过抗感染、血管活性药物、IABP辅助治疗等措施治愈。生存患者随访3个月,随访率89.8%(53/59);所有患者无心绞痛复发,心功能恢复至Ⅰ~Ⅱ级(NYHA)。结论:在OPCABG中应用骨骼化IMA安全、疗效满意,但术中取材具有一定操作难度,易发生乳内动脉损伤,手术方式选择应根据具体情况决定。