Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass

There are different minimal invasive approaches of coronary bypass surgery. Avoiding sternotomy and gaining access to the heart via an alternative route is one strategy. Another is to avoid cardiopulmonary bypass. Combining these two measures defines the classical minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) procedure. While multiple grafts can be placed through a limited mini-thoracotomy on the beating heart, the classic MIDCAB procedure is usually limited to grafting of the left internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending artery.