MIDCAB characteristics and results: the CardioThoracic Systems (CTS) registry

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) is a surgical technique for treating coronary artery disease.
• The CardioThoracic Systems (CTS) registry was established to evaluate MIDCAB procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine baseline patient characteristics for MIDCAB.
• To document procedural details, including grafting techniques and complications.
• To assess post-operative graft patency in MIDCAB patients.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 508 consecutive patients undergoing MIDCAB with CTS instrumentation.
• Data collected from 35 international centers between April 1996 and March 1997.
• Evaluation of patient demographics, surgical techniques, complications, and graft patency.

Main Results:

• The average patient age was 63 years, with 27% women. Left internal mammary artery was the predominant graft (93%).
• In-hospital complication rates were low: 0.6% mortality, 5.5% redo/reintervention. 92% of patients were event-free at discharge.
• Post-operative angiography in 83 patients showed 94% graft patency.

Conclusions:

• MIDCAB using CTS instrumentation is safe and achieves acute success in most patients.
• Further comparative studies and clinical trials are necessary.
• Longer-term outcomes and identification of ideal patient populations require further investigation.