Objective To summarize the experience of emergency coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） after failed percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods From January 1998 to December 2002, 9 patients underwent emergency CABG after failed percutaneous coronary intervention. The indications of emergency CABG were coronary artery dissection （5 cases）or perforation （2 cases） and acute arterial occlusion （2 cases）. The time averaged 2 hours from onset of ischernia to revascularization. The CABG was performed under off-pump bypass in 3 cases and under CPB in 6 cases. The mean graft number was 3. Results There were no hospital death. The mean follow-up was 17 months. No death and angina occurred. The function of New York Heart Association class Ⅰ-Ⅱ were in 8 patients, class Ⅲ in 1 patient. Conclusion Emergency CABG is an effective management for failed percutaneous coronary intervention if the indication is right.
Objective To review our experience of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting （MIDCAB） via a lower median ministernotomy in 72 cases. Methods Via a lower median ministernotomy,the left internal mammary artery was harvested to bypass the left anterior descending coronary artery. Saphenous vein was resected and used for single - or multi-vessel coronary revascularization on the beating heart. Results There were 1 operative death （1.4 % ）. Complications occurred in 3 patients （4.2%）. The operative duration was 195.6 ± 50. 6 min. The number of distal anastomoses was 2.3±0. 8（1-4）. The median time to tracheal extubation, and lengths of postoperative ICU and hospital stays were 11 hours, 3 and 9 days, respectively. Total chest drainage was 8. 54±5.9 ml/kg and 47 patients needed blood transfusion with an amount of 1 091.3±636.2 ml. The incision on the chest wall was 9 to 11 cm long in all cases. Sixty-six patients （92.9%, 66/71） were followed-up for a duration of 36.2±17.6 months. There were no late death and 43 patients （65.2%） were free from angina. Eighteen patients （27.3%, 18/ 66） experienced marked relief of their symptoms. Conclusions MIDCAB is possible via a lower ministernotomy for single - or multi-vessel coronary revascularization. The small incision reduces the risk of infection and blood loss. It is safe, easy and requires no special operative instruments.