Abstract
Objective
The introduction of robotic surgery has generated innovations in minimally invasive coronary surgery, including instrumentation. We have developed a small instrument, named by us the Triangular Hook, that expedites robotic skeletonization of the internal thoracic artery and makes the procedure safer.
Methods
Bilateral skeletonized internal thoracic artery harvesting was performed in four dogs (weight, 22 to 36 kg), using the da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA). One internal thoracic artery was harvested with the Triangular Hook; the other was harvested without it. Harvesting time was measured for each form of harvesting, with the data being reported as mean ± SD.
Results
All eight internal thoracic arteries were harvested successfully; they were patent at the end of harvesting. Significantly less time was required for the Triangular Hook (41.5 ± 2.8 minutes) than for harvesting without it (47.5 ± 3.9 minutes; P = 0.02).
Conclusions
The Triangular Hook is practicable and safe in robotic skeletonization of the internal thoracic artery.
Keywords
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