Thoracoscopic In Situ Double Mammary Artery Harvesting.

Sotirios Marinakis

CHU Charleroi, Lodelinsart, Belgium

 

Abstract:

Minimally invasive procedures for coronary revascularization have been performed for over 20 years; however, their technical complexity, steep learning curves and absence of training programs explain the weak acceptance of these techniques. Use of bilateral mammary arteries is though to be the best conduits that we can offer to our patients during coronary surgery. Here is a step-by-step protocol of how our team achieves an endoscopic bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) harvesting for minimally invasive CABGs through a left thoracoscopic approach.