History of Cardiac Surgery: Videos of the World’s First MIDCAB and Ambulatory Coronary Surgeries

Federico Benetti shares two pieces of cardiac surgery history: videos of the first MIDCAB and the first ambulatory coronary surgery performed.

MIDCAB, Performed in April 1994

A video endoscope was used to dissect the mammary artery. After harvest, the author anastomosed the LIMA to the LAD without opening the pleural space or using any of the stabilization devices currently available.

Ambulatory Coronary Surgery, Performed in October 1997

This operation was performed with video assistance, opening only the subxiphoid area. The patient had a long xiphoid that allowed the author to dissect a portion of the left mammary artery and connect it to the LAD artery. The patient was discharged 22 hours after the operation. This operation is not applicable to the majority of patients due to their sternal anatomy, and a sternotomy is instead performed. The author currently calls this operation a mini OPCAB.