Left anterior minithoracotomy as a first-choice approach for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting and selective combined procedures

Abstract OBJECTIVES Our goal was to describe the technique for and evaluate the results of the isolated coronary artery bypass grafting or combined grafting procedures with mitral valve repair/replacement and/or left ventricle aneurysm repair performed through a single left anterior minithoracotomy. METHODS Perioperative data of all patients who required isolated or combined coronary grafting from July 2017 to December 2021 were observed. The focus was on 560 patients who underwent isolated or combined multivessel coronary bypass using the “Total Coronary Revascularization via left Anterior Thoracotomy” technique. The main perioperative outcomes were analysed. RESULTS A left anterior minithoracotomy was used in 521 (97.7%) out of 533 patients who required isolated multivessel surgical coronary revascularization and in 39 (32.5%) out of 120 patients who required combined procedures. In 39 patients, multivessel grafting was combined with 25 mitral valve and 22 left ventricular procedures. Mitral valve repair was performed through the aneurysm (n = 8) or through the interatrial septum (n = 17). Perioperative outcomes in isolated and combined groups were next: aortic cross-clamp time—71.9 (SD: 19.9) and 120 (SD: 25.8) min; cardiopulmonary bypass time—145.7 (SD: 33.5) and 216 (SD: 45.8) min; total operating time—269 (SD: 51.8) and 324 (SD: 52.1) min; intensive care unit stay—2 (2–2) and 2 (2–2) days; total hospital stay—6 (5–7) and 6 (5–7) days; and total 30-day mortality was 0.54 and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS A left anterior minithoracotomy can be effectively used as a first-choice approach to perform isolated multivessel coronary grafting and can be combined with mitral valve and/or left ventricular repair. Experience with isolated coronary grafting through an anterior minithoracotomy is required to achieve the satisfactory results in combined procedures. A left anterior minithoracotomy (LAmT) has been described as an alternative approach for isolated multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and has been called the “total coronary revascularization via left anterior thoracotomy” (TCRAT-CABG) technique [1–5].