Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) is a surgical treatment for
coronary heart disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial ischemia, or simply heart disease, involves the reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle due to build-up of atherosclerotic pl ...
that is a less invasive method of
coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).
MIDCAB gains surgical access to the heart with a smaller
incision than other types of CABG. MIDCAB is sometimes referred to as "keyhole"
heart surgery
Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to corr ...
because the operation is analogous to operating through a
keyhole
A lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object (such as a key, keycard, fingerprint, RFID card, security token or coin), by supplying secret information (such as a number or letter permutation or pas ...
.
MIDCAB is a form of
off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB), performed "off-pump" – without the use of
cardiopulmonary bypass
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a technique in which a machine temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining the circulation of blood and oxygen to the body. The CPB pump itself is often referred to as a ...
(the heart-lung machine). MIDCAB differs from OPCAB in the type of incision used for the surgery; with traditional CABG and OPCAB a
median sternotomy
Median sternotomy is a type of surgical procedure in which a vertical inline incision is made along the sternum, after which the sternum itself is divided using a sternal saw. This procedure provides access to the heart and lungs for surgical pro ...
(dividing the
breastbone) provides access to the heart; with MIDCAB, the surgeon enters the chest cavity through a
mini-thoracotomy (a 2-to-3 inch incision between the ribs).
MIDCAB surgery is no longer reserved for only anteriorly placed single- or double-vessel diseases, because such lesions are usually managed with
angioplasty
Angioplasty, is also known as balloon angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atheroscle ...
. The surgery has recently begun to be used in multi-vessel coronary disease.
MIDCAB in hybrid revascularization
People with multi-vessel coronary disease, who desire a minimally invasive approach to surgery may be eligible for
hybrid bypass. A hybrid approach combines coronary bypass (using the MIDCAB approach) and coronary
stenting.
See also
*
Cardiac surgeon
Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to corr ...
*
Cardiac surgery
Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to co ...
*
Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass surgery
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Cardiac surgery
Minimally-invasive surgery