Related Experiment Videos
Computer-assisted endoscopic coronary artery bypass anastomoses: a chronic animal study
E R Stephenson1, C T Ducko, S Sankholkar
1Department of Surgery, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Geisinger Health System, Hershey 17033, USA.
Background:
With traditional instruments, endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (ECABG) has not been possible. This study was designed to determine the feasibility of using a robotically-assisted microsurgical system to perform ECABG in a chronic animal model.
Methods:
Nine calves were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass after harvesting the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). Subxiphoid endoscopic ports (2 instrument, 1 camera) were placed, and a robotic system was used to perform ECABG between the LIMA and left anterior descending coronary artery. LIMA graft flow (LIMAQ) was measured. Animals were sacrificed at 1 month, and hearts underwent angiographic and histologic analyses.
Results:
Acute graft patency was 89% (8/9). Two animals died suddenly within the first 48 hours. There was no significant difference in mean acute and chronic (n = 6) LIMAQ (40.9+/-4.7 and 38.5+/-5.0 ml/min, respectively). Survivors had an angiographic patency rate of 100% (6/6), confirmed by histology.
Conclusions:
This study shows that ECABG is feasible in a chronic animal model with excellent results.