A collaborative approach to minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass

Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) graft is a surgical technique that is becoming more widely accepted. Through a collaborative effort--interhospital and intrahospital--surgical team members at two hospitals in Kentucky made significant improvements on the MIDCAB procedure that positively influenced patient outcomes (e.g., less time in intensive care, shorter hospital stays, fewer complication, cost savings to the patients and institutions). This article reviews those collaborative efforts and outcomes.