ABSTRACT 23

ENDSCOPIC ROBOT-ASSISTED CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING ON THE BEATING HEART

W. Douglas Boyd, Kojiro Kodera, Reiza Rayman, Bob Kiaii, Alan H. Menkis, Richard J. Novick
London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada

Purpose. This study was designed to determine the clinical feasibility of using a robotic microsurgical system to create closed chest off-pump CABG.

Methods. Eight patients underwent off-pump CABG of the LITA to the LAD with the ZEUS robotic system. Three five-millimeter ports were placed in the left chest and the LITA was harvested using the Harmonic scalpel adapted to the robotic system. An end-to-side coronary anastomoses was performed totally endoscopically. All patients underwent postoperative angiogram.

Results. LITA harvest time averaged 64.0 ± 17.0 min. All anastomoses were completed using the new stabilizer and the ZEUS system. The mean time for anastomoses was 56.1± 10.6 min, intraoperative graft flow was 32.5 ± 20.6 ml/min. Postoperative angiography demonstrated 100% graft patency. The average length of hospital stay was 3.6 ± 1.1 days.

Conclusion. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of robotically- assisted closed chest endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting on the beating heart, and carries a great potential to further improve our minimally invasive surgical results.