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Updated: May 24, 2026
Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: May 29, 2015
Long-term angiographic follow-up of robotic-assisted coronary artery revascularization
Maria E Currie1, Jonathan Romsa, Stephanie A Fox
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada. maria.currie@londonhospitals.ca
Insights
Robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) shows a 92.7% long-term graft patency rate. Left internal thoracic artery grafts to the left anterior descending artery had a 93.4% patency rate, indicating durable results.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) offers short-term benefits like increased patient satisfaction and reduced recovery times.
- Long-term graft patency rates for robotic-assisted CABG have not been extensively documented.
- Assessing long-term outcomes is crucial for understanding the durability of robotic surgical techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term patency of grafts following robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- To determine the functional significance and hemodynamic impact of graft stenosis over time.
- To assess patient quality of life after robotic-assisted CABG.
Main Methods:
- Cohort study of patients undergoing robotic-assisted conduit dissection for CABG (1999-2003).
- Long-term graft patency assessed 5-10 years post-surgery using cardiac catheterization, computed tomography angiography (CTA), or stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS).
- Quality of life questionnaires administered to assess patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- A total of 160 patients underwent robotic-assisted CABG, with 82 eligible for long-term follow-up (mean 8 years).
- The overall graft patency rate was 92.7%.
- The patency rate for left internal thoracic artery (LITA) grafts to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery was 93.4%.
- Patients reported high quality of life scores post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Robotic-assisted CABG demonstrates a high long-term graft patency rate of 92.7% at a mean follow-up of 95.8 months.
- Specific LITA to LAD grafts achieved a patency rate of 93.4%, highlighting their durability.
- The findings support the long-term efficacy of robotic-assisted CABG in maintaining graft function.
Background:
Robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been shown in short-term studies to increase patient satisfaction and to reduce surgical morbidity and recovery times. However, the long-term patency rate of robotic-assisted CABG is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the long-term patency rate of robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafts.
Methods:
The study cohort included all patients who underwent robotic-assisted conduit dissection for CABG at London Health Sciences Centre between September 1999 and December 2003. These patients had selective graft patency assessment using cardiac catheterization or computed tomography angiography (CTA), or both, and stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) 5 to 10 years after surgery to evaluate graft patency and to give functional information on the hemodynamic significance of any graft stenosis. Patients also completed quality of life questionnaires.
Results:
From a total of 160 patients who underwent robotic-assisted CABG, 82 eligible patients were followed with graft patency assessments for a mean period of 8 years±16.3 months. The patency rate of all robotic-assisted CABG grafts in this patient cohort was 92.7%. The patency rate of left internal thoracic artery grafts to the left anterior descending artery after robotic-assisted CABG in this patient cohort was 93.4%. Patients consistently attained high scores on quality of life questionnaires after surgery.
Conclusions:
The long-term patency rate of grafts after robotic-assisted CABG was 92.7% at a mean follow-up period of 95.8±16.3 months. Specifically, the patency rate of left internal thoracic artery grafts to the left anterior descending artery after robotic-assisted CABG was 93.4%.
