From OPCAB to MIDCAB to Multi-vessel MIDCAB. Establishing a Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Program: Initial Experiences of an Academic Center.

This article discusses the establishment of a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass program at an academic center. The program follows a stepwise approach, starting with off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), then progressing to minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), and finally to multivessel (MV-) MIDCAB surgery. The study analyzed the records of 147 patients who underwent these procedures and examined factors such as patient demographics, procedural parameters, and postoperative complications. The results showed that the stepwise approach was feasible and safe, with good early outcomes. The authors recommend this gradual approach for establishing a minimally invasive coronary bypass program. [Extracted from the article]