Robotic‐assisted coronary artery bypass surgery: an 18‐year single‐centre experience

AbstractBackgroundMinimally invasive robot‐assisted direct coronary artery bypass (RADCAB) has emerged as a feasible minimally invasive surgical technique for revascularization that might offer several potential advantages over conventional approaches. We present our 18‐year experience in RADCAB.MethodsBetween February 1998 and February 2016, 605 patients underwent RADCAB. Patients underwent post‐procedural selective graft patency assessment using cardiac catheterization.ResultsThe mortality rate was 0.3%. The rate of conversion to sternotomy for any cause was reduced from 16.0% of the first 200 cases to 6.9% of the last 405 patients. The patency rate of the LITA‐to‐LAD anastomosis was 97.4%. Surgical re‐exploration for bleeding occurred in 1.8% of patients, and the transfusion rate was 9.2%. Average ICU stay was 1.2 ± 1.4 days, and average hospital stay was 4.8 ± 2.9 days.ConclusionsRobot‐assisted coronary artery bypass grafting is safe, feasible and it seems to represent an effective alternative to traditional coronary artery bypass grafting in selected patients.

Robotic‐assisted coronary artery bypass surgery: an 18‐year single‐centre experience Journal Articles