Thoracoscopic (non-robotic) harvesting of bilateral internal mammary artery grafts

Abstract

Minimally invasive coronary surgery offers benefits to the patient. Harvesting the internal mammary artery remains a challenging part of this procedure. We describe our technique for thoracoscopic harvesting of the left and right mammary arteries using routine endoscopic instruments. This is a non-robotic technique that might facilitate a more widespread growth of minimally invasive coronary surgery.

Keywords: Bilateral mammary artery; Coronary artery bypass graft; Coronary surgery; Internal mammary artery; Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting; Thoracoscopic surgery.