Abstract
Background
Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) requires telemanipulation technologies because attempts using conventional thoracoscopic instrumentation have completely failed. These complex operations require individual and team learning curves and necessitate a stepwise approach. The aim of this study is to assess risk adjusted outcome in robotically assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) after the first 6 years of application.
Methods
From 2001 to 2007, 177 CABG procedures were performed using the da Vinci system. A low risk patient population [age 59 (31–76) years, EuroSCORE 1 (0–7)] was treated. The following procedures were carried out: endoscopic internal mammary artery takedown in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass, Off-pump coronary artery bypass, and CABG (n = 26); robotic suturing of left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery anastomoses through sternotomy (n = 32); TECAB on the arrested heart (n = 108); TECAB on the beating heart (n = 11).
Results
There was no hospital mortality, and cumulative risk adjusted mortality plots showed that 2.76 predicted events did not occur. Given 177 event free procedures Clopper Pearson estimations revealed a 95% confidence interval between 0.0% and 2.3% for perioperative mortality.
Conclusions
Introduction of robotic TECAB grafting appears to meet current CABG safety standards. Initial application in low risk patients and a stepwise approach towards completely endoscopic versions of the operation are worthwhile. Despite a high grade of innovation and despite learning curves, perioperative mortality may be lower than predicted.
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