Coronary Bypass Grafting Research Articles

Obscure Rare Cause of Recurrent Angina in Post CABG Patient: Coronary-Subclavian Steal Syndrome

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is a rare and unrecognized complication of coronary bypass grafting surgery when a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is utilized for left anterior descending (LAD) artery revascularization without knowing left subclavian artery status. We describe a case of a 67-year-old male, with a known history of triple vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) managed with CABGx3 in March 2003. The patient presented after 16 years with complaints of recurrent angina for the past 15 years which aggravates on exertion, especially of left hand. Recurrent hospitalizations and repeated Coronary angiograms (CAG) as well as CT Coronary angiography failed to diagnose the cause of angina. Subclavian angiography and subsequent methodical clinical examination during the present admission revealed left subclavian origin stenosis which was successfully revascularized by deployment of a stent resulting in convincing relief in the patient’s angina.

Clinical Impact of Sarcopenia Screening on Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Coronary Bypass Grafting.

Sarcopenia is an aging-related condition characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass and is an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis. The relationship between reduced muscle mass and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with advanced coronary artery disease who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is not fully understood. This study is sought to evaluate the prognostic implications of sarcopenia screening in patients undergoing CABG. A total of 2810 patients who underwent CABG were analysed and classified according to presence of reduced muscle mass. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as L3 muscle area (cm2)/height (m)2 on computed tomography. Reduced SMI was defined as SMI ≤ 45 cm2/m2 in male and ≤ 38 cm2/m2 in female. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. The median follow-up was 8.7 years, and 924 patients (32.9%) had reduced SMI. Patients with reduced SMI were older (67.7 ± 8.8 vs. 62.2 ± 9.8 years; p < 0.001) and less frequently male (69.8% vs. 81.1%; p < 0.001). SMI was significantly associated with risk of death on a restricted cubic spline curve (HR = 1.04 per-1 decrease; 95% CI 1.03-1.05; p < 0.001). Patients with reduced SMI had a higher incidence of long-term mortality than those with preserved SMI (survival rate 41.4% vs. 62.8%; HRadj = 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.36, p = 0.020). Subgroup analysis showed that the prognostic implication of reduced SMI on long-term survival was more evident in male (HRadj = 2.01, 95% CI 1.72-2.35) than female (HRadj = 1.28, 95% CI 0.98-1.68) (interaction p = 0.006). Reduced muscle mass, defined by SMI on computed tomography, was associated with long-term mortality after CABG. These results provide contemporary data to allow the evaluation of physical frailty in patients with advanced coronary artery disease before surgery. Long-Term Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Patients Undergoing CABG or PCI: NCT03870815.

Intraoperative Invasive Coronary Angiography after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the feasibility and safety of intraoperative invasive coronary angiography (ICA) following coronary artery bypass grafting using a mobile angiography C-arm. Between August 2020 and December 2021, 18 patients were enrolled for intraoperative ICA following coronary artery bypass grafting. After skin closure, ICA was performed including angiography of all established bypass grafts via a mobile angiography system by an interventional cardiologist. Data on graft patency, stenosis, and kinking were assessed. Grafts were rated on an ordinal scale ranging from very poor (1) to excellent (5). Furthermore, the impact of ICA compared with flow measurement was assessed using the ordinal Likert scale ranging from (I) worse to (V) much better. The ICA was considered better (V) compared with transient flow measurement in 38 (93%) and comparable (III) in 3 (7%) distal anastomoses. ICA impacted clinical or surgical decision-making in three patients (17%). In one patient, dual antiplatelet therapy for 6 months was initiated and rethoracotomy was needed in two (11%) patients with bypass graft revision and additional bypass grafting for graft occlusion. There were no cerebral and distal embolic events or access vessel complications observed and no postoperative acute kidney injury occurred. Intraoperative angiography after coronary bypass grafting is safe. Using a mobile angiographic device, graft patency, and function assessment was superior to transit time flow measurement leading to further consequences in a relevant number of patients. Therefore, it has the potential to reduce postoperative myocardial injury and improve survival.

Clinical impact of Sarcopenia on long-term mortality in patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is an aging-related condition characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass and is an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis. The relationship between sarcopenia and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with advanced coronary artery disease who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic implications of sarcopenia in patients undergoing CABG. Methods A total of 2,810 patients who underwent CABG were derived from the Samsung Medical Center institutional registry from 2007 to 2017 and classified according to the presence of sarcopenia. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as L3 muscle area (cm2)/height (m)2 on computed tomography. Sarcopenia was defined as SMI ≤45 cm2/m2 in men and ≤38 cm2/m2 in women. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality during follow-up. Results The median follow-up was 8.7 years, and 924 patients (32.9%) had sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia were older and more frequently women. SMI was significantly correlated with age (R=-0.34, P&amp;lt;0.001), weight (R=-0.56, P&amp;lt;0.001), and body mass index (R=-0.52, P&amp;lt;0.001). SMI was significantly associated with risk of death on a restricted cubic spline curve (HR=1.04 per-1 decrease, 95% CI 1.03-1.05, P&amp;lt;0.001). Patients with sarcopenia had a higher incidence of long-term mortality than those without sarcopenia (survival rate 41.4% vs. 62.8%; adjusted HR=1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.36, P=0.02). Subgroup analysis showed that the prognostic implication of sarcopenia on long-term survival was more evident in men (adjusted HR=2.01, 95% CI 1.72-2.35) than women (adjusted HR=1.28, 95% CI 0.98-1.68) (interaction P=0.006). Conclusions Sarcopenia, defined by SMI on computed tomography, was associated with long-term mortality after CABG. These results provide contemporary data to allow the evaluation of physical frailty in patients with advanced coronary artery disease before surgery.

Assessment of surgical revascularization completeness with quantitative myocardial blood flow distribution derived from CCTA in severe coronary artery disease

Abstract Background Complete revascularization remained the "holy grail" in the treatment of patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there is no universally accepted definition of complete revascularization after coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). The current assessment methods are visual, categorical, and biased by the operator's intention. Moreover, no method to date provides an individualized quantification of residual ischemia burden. Purpose We aim to provide an individualized method to assess the completeness of surgical revascularization through quantitative myocardial blood flow distribution derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) that could reflect the actual functional ischemia burden after CABG. Methods Patients with 3VD and/or left main CAD were enrolled in the first-in-human FAST TRACK CABG trial for surgical revascularization guided solely by CCTA and fractional flow reserve derived from CCTA (FFRCT). Following CABG, the study protocol mandated a 30-day follow-up CCTA, which provides graft patency and topographical adequacy of the bypass graft anastomoses. The pre- and post-CABG CCTA were analyzed. The FFRCT value and percent myocardial blood flow distribution (%MBF) were computed for all 16 SYNTAX score segments using the validated method of Keulards et al(1). On pre-CABG CCTA, the myocardium located distal to the site where the FFRCT value dropped below 0.80 on the vessel centerline was considered ischemic, and the %MBF of the subtended myocardium was summed into the total percent ischemic myocardium (Figure 1). Following CABG, the segment was considered adequately revascularized when a non-narrowed graft was anastomosed distally to the site of FFRCT≤0.8 on the pre-operative CCTA. The change in percent ischemic myocardium and the residual ischemic burden were calculated for each patient (Figure 2). Results CCTA, FFRCT, and %MBF were obtained pre- and post-CABG in 96 patients, and the percent ischemic myocardium was computed per patient. At baseline, the average percent ischemic myocardium was 72.0(19.1)%. Post-CABG, the residual percent ischemic myocardium was 13.6(15.1)%. Residual percent ischemic myocardium &amp;lt;10% was achieved in 44 patients (44.8%). The first diagonal branch(n=13), distal LCX(n=12), and the first obtuse marginal branch(n=10) were the most frequent segments not revascularized, which subtended an average MBF of 12.2(3.5)%, 16.7(8.4)%, and 11.3(7.3)%, respectively. The main reason for inadequate revascularization was surgical deferral, with graft occlusion accounting for only 13.6% of the residual ischemic segments. Conclusion Percent ischemic myocardium and the completeness of surgical revascularization can be assessed with CCTA-derived %MBF. This novel method allows clinicians to assess the individualized ischemia burden and the completeness of revascularization that could be incorporated into personalized CABG planning.Figure 1Figure 2

Exploring the Association of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption with Presence of and Severe Coronary Artery Calcification.

Despite the majority of studies have identified smoking as a risk factor for coronary artery calcification (CAC), some studies have not identified this relationship. Differences on results reached by studies on the association of alcohol consumption with CAC exist. Moreover, studies have almost exclusively investigated the association between smoking and alcohol consumption independently. Whether an interaction effect of alcohol on the association of smoking and CAC exists has hardly been investigated. The data of 2431 adult patients who visited Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from September, 2001 to December, 2023 and had Agaston coronary artery calcification score (CACS) reported were utilized. Patients who (1) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary bypass graft and heart transplantation, or (2) were complicated by acute medical conditions, chronic kidney disease or malignant neoplasms were excluded. Data from 1528 patients were eventually analyzed. Logistic regression was employed to investigate the association of smoking and alcohol consumption with presence of CAC and severe CAC. Interaction effects of alcohol consumption history on the association of current smoking and both presence of and severe CAC were examined. Smoking history was significantly associated with presence of CAC and severe CAC. Current alcohol consumption was also significantly associated with presence of CAC and severe CAC. After adjusting for confounders, alcohol consumption history demonstrated an interaction effect on the association of current smoking with both presence of and severe CAC. Using non-alcohol consumers not smoking at the time of the study as reference, current smokers with an alcohol consumption history suffered from an increased risk of presence of CAC and severe CAC. Both smoking history and current alcohol consumption were associated with presence of and severe CAC. Alcohol consumption history demonstrated an interaction effect on the association of current smoking with both presence of and severe CAC.

Off-Pump Revascularization in Moderate İschemic Mitral Regurgitation.

İschemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is associated with high mortality and poor outcomes. The surgical management of moderate IMR is still an object of debate. Patients with moderate IMR who underwent isolated off pump coronary bypass grafting (OPCAB) with facile stabilization between January 2015 and February 2022 were analyzed. The primary end point was the remaining ischemic mitral regurgitation and echocardiographic findings while the secondary outcomes were defined as mortality, major adverse events and postoperative functional status. Of 541 patients who underwent isolated OPCAB in this period, there were 62 patients among with concomitant moderate IMR. The mean follow-up period was 19.4±21.6 months. The median number of the coronary anastomosis was 4(range.1-6). In 58.06% (n=36), the regurgitation regressed. Left atrial (LA) diameter significantly decreased postoperatively (p= .040). Increased LA diameter was associated with increased major adverse events (p=.010). Rehospitalization rates were higher in low EF. The postoperative poor functional status(NYHA III-IV) was correlated with increased postoperative left ventricular end-systolic diameter (41.75±6.13 v.s. 34.79±6.8 p=.05). Mortality(4.8%, n=3) was associated with elder age and increased preoperative systolic pulmonary artery pressure (p= .050; p= .046 respectively). LA diameter, LVESD, mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure, LVEF and age are important predictors for outcomes in IMR. Remaining IMR per se is not directly correlated with increased mortality and MACCE. Facile stabilization technique we use here, is advantegous due to the feasibility of full revascularization of all intended vessels particularly of the inferoposterior wall by providing an excellent vision without compression of the heart.

Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery: Results from a Single Surgical Team in Spain.

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery is a rare congenital lesion in which a coronary artery arises from an anomalous location within the aorta. Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery has been associated with myocardial ischemia and it is considered the second most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes. When surgical repair is indicated, surgical unroofing is the most commonly employed technique. Our objective is to describe the outcomes of our surgically treated patients. We present a series of 16 adult patients who underwent surgical repair of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery. Patients were treated in three different institutions by the same surgeon. Surgical unroofing of the anomalous coronary artery was the surgical technique chosen in the majority of the patients. Follow-up was performed. Unroofing of an intramural anomalous coronary artery was the procedure performed in 11 patients. Three patients underwent neo-ostium creation; one patient underwent a David procedure with coronary reimplantation; and one patient was treated with coronary bypass grafting due to severe coronary atheromatous lesions. There were no perioperative deaths, and no major postoperative complications. Follow-up period was 73.8 months, the survival rate was 100%, and there were neither ischemia or heart failure reports. The surgical repair of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery by coronary unroofing or neo-ostium creation has demonstrated excellent early and late outcomes. Late survival was excellent. The follow-up period revealed no significant morbidity or complications.

'Color Doppler stripes’ make it difficult to diagnose the severity of valvular heart diseases: a report of two cases

BackgroundEchocardiography remains the reference-standard imaging technique for assessing valvular heart disease (VHD), but artifacts like the ‘color Doppler stripe’ can complicate diagnosis. This artifact is not widely recognized and can mimic severe VHD, leading to potential misdiagnoses. We present two cases where color Doppler stripes mimicked severe VHD, highlighting the need for awareness and accurate interpretation in echocardiographic assessments.Case presentationsCase 1: An 85-year-old patient was referred for mitral valve surgery due to suspected severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Upon evaluation, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed mitral valve prolapse (P3) and a high-echoic, vibrating structure attached to the mitral valve, indicative of chordal rupture. Color Doppler echocardiography revealed strong systolic signals in the left atrium, mimicking severe MR. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) also detected the vibrating structure and color Doppler stripes in the left atrium, left ventricle, and outside the cardiac chambers. The PISA method on TEE indicated moderate MR and left ventriculography showed Sellers grade II MR. The artifact was identified as color Doppler stripes caused by the vibrating high-echoic structure from the ruptured chorda. Case 2: A 64-year-old patient with severe aortic stenosis, end-stage kidney disease requiring hemodialysis, and a history of coronary bypass grafting presented for routine follow-up. B-mode echocardiography showed a severely calcified tricuspid aortic valve with a vibrating calcified nodule and restricted opening, corresponding to severe aortic stenosis. During systole, color Doppler signals were observed around the aortic, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves, mimicking significant pulmonary stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation. However, pulmonary stenosis was ruled out as the pulmonary valve opening was normal. Mild tricuspid regurgitation was confirmed in the apical view.ConclusionsThese cases highlight the diagnostic challenges posed by color Doppler stripes. Recognizing and understanding this artifact are crucial for the accurate diagnosis and management of VHD, ensuring appropriate treatment and patient outcomes.

Impact of Multi versus Single Arterial Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery on Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

The effect of multi-arterial (MA) versus single arterial (SA) coronary bypass graft surgery on postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) was not investigated. From May 2017 to May 2024, the patients with CYP2C19*2 or *3 allele receiving coronary artery grafting and post-operational aspirin 100 mg/day and clopidogrel 75mg/day were retrospectively reviewed and assigned into MA or SA group. The primary endpoint was the incidence rate of POAF in first week. The secondary endpoints were POAF burden, platelet aggregation, systemic immune-inflammation (SII) index and heart rate variability (HRV). The study included 58 cases in MA group and 174 cases in SA group. The incidence of POAF was 17% in MA group contrasting with 42% in SA group (hazard ratio: 0.353; 95% confidence interval: 0.218 to 0.569, P=0.0012). A lower POAF burden was observed in MA group than that in SA group (2 h [1, 5] versus 10 h [6, 20], P=0.02). Platelet aggregation (arachidonic acid, 46%±10% vs. 56%±8%, P<0.01; adenosine diphosphate, 58%±17% vs. 75%±13%, P<0.01) and inflammation response index (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, 26±4 vs. 28±5, P=0.006; SII index, 5019±771 vs. 5382±1204, P=0.032) was notably lower in MA group than those in SA group at one day after CABG. Holter electrocardiogram showed a higher HRV value in standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals, and decreased low-frequency/high-frequency ratio in MA group. In conclusion, MA was associated with a lower incidence rate of POAF, and paralleled with a lower AF burden, platelet aggregation, inflammation reaction and a higher parasympathetic nerve tone compared with SA regimen.

Outcome after the early use of intra-aortic balloon pump in coronary bypass graft surgery in cases with impaired myocardial function.

Outcome after the early use of intra-aortic balloon pump in coronary bypass graft surgery in cases with impaired myocardial function.

Embracing industry in the development of robotic coronary bypass grafting.

Embracing industry in the development of robotic coronary bypass grafting.

In-Hospital Graft Occlusion in Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients in the Early Postoperative Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to evaluate the incidence of early graft occlusion during hospital stays following coronary bypass surgery (CABG) and to assess the factors influencing the odds of in-hospital early graft occlusion. Methods: Reports evaluating the early in-hospital occlusion of coronary bypass grafts were identified through PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The primary endpoint was to determine the incidence of early graft occlusion following CABG before discharge and to identify and quantify the impact of demographic, clinical, and procedural risk factors on the occurrence of early graft occlusion. The meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects inverse-variance model with the DerSimonian-Laird estimator, assessing incidence rates, risk factors, and study heterogeneity, with statistical analysis performed using Stata. Results: A total of 22 studies with 35,798 patients were included in the analysis. The overall incidence of in-hospital early graft occlusion was 5% (95% CI: 3% to 7%). In studies using symptom-driven patency assessment, the incidence of occlusion was 2%, whereas in those employing systematic graft patency assessment, it was 6%. Only the presence of a vein graft OR 2.13 (95% CI: 1.19-3.82) was significantly associated with in-hospital graft occlusion. Conclusions: The incidence of in-hospital early graft occlusion seems substantially underestimated if imaging is restricted only to symptomatic patients. Moreover, female gender, increased PI, and the presence of a composite graft could also be potential risk factors for this complication.

Aortic Homografts in Surgical Management of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: A Case Series from Greece.

BACKGROUND Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe, life-threatening, and relatively common complication after valve replacement operations, with incidence rates varying between 1.8% and 5.8%, with an in-hospital mortality rate of up to 20%. Common microorganisms are (listed by decreasing incidence) Streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, bacteria of the HACEK group, and fungi. Treatment of IE is complex, typically involving prolonged courses of antibiotics. However, in cases of aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis, root abscess formation with involvement of the aorto-mitral skeleton is not uncommon and complex surgical intervention is required. One of the notable advancements in surgical management is the use of homografts for aortic root endocarditis. CASE REPORT We report the first case series of 8 patients successfully operated on for prosthetic valve endocarditis with extensive aortic root abscess formation in Greece at Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center with the use of aortic homograft. All cases were redo surgeries and had good outcomes. Interestingly, one of the cases had extensive aortic root involvement with abscess formation extending to the aorto-mitral fibrous skeleton, requiring aortic root replacement with homograft, aorto-mitral skeleton reconstruction with bovine pericardium and mitral valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis. Two other patients required concomitant coronary bypass grafting of the right coronary artery with reversed saphenous vein grafts. CONCLUSIONS Aortic root replacement with aortic homograft is the preferred choice for prosthetic valve endocarditis with aortic root abscess formation. Despite the technical complexity needed for implantation, this option offers a second chance for survival in patients with this challenging condition.

How to advance from minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting to totally endoscopic coronary bypass grafting: challenges in Europe versus United States of America.

Robotic coronary and intra-cardiac surgery has been available for more than 25 years. In this period, multiple studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of robotic surgery over conventional open surgery. Throughout the years, technical developments have enabled us to perform totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) grafting. But these techniques remained in the hands of a small group of pioneers because of a lack of structured training programs and the absence of long-term results at that time. Currently, a renewed interest and a wide dispersion of robotic platforms, thanks to use of robotics in other disciplines, has led to an exponential increase in robotic cardiac centers both in Europe and USA. Nonetheless, this increase was slowed down in Europe as a result of the uncertainty introduced by the implementation of a revised regulatory framework for medical devices [Regulation 2017/745, 'Medical Device Regulation' ('MDR')]. The MDR was introduced with the goal of increasing patient safety and supporting innovation. Implementing the MDR has proven to be exceptionally challenging and risks to the supply of essential devices have been identified. Changes to both regulatory and market dynamics led to a circumstance where the only available robotic platform for cardiac surgery decided to cease marketing of essential accessories for conducting surgery. This resulted in the disappearance of dedicated tools such as the Endowrist stabilizer, essential for TECAB, and the atrial retractor which is essential for intra-cardiac surgery. In the mean-time, further clinical evidence was published demonstrating the superiority of robotic cardiac surgery over other minimally invasive approaches. This has demonstrated the need to better define the clinical evidence requirements for regulatory purposes to ensure that dedicated tools for evidence-based interventions in robotic coronary surgery remain available such that TECAB can continue in Europe.

Small incisions still require great anesthesia: anesthesiology techniques to enhance recovery in robotic coronary bypass grafting.

Robotic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of coronary artery disease. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the anesthetic management for robotic CABG. Challenges associated with robotic CABG are discussed and various anesthetic techniques, perioperative elements and pain management modalities that can contribute to enhanced patient recovery are explored.

Clinical outcomes of different revascularization approaches for patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease: A network meta-analysis.

As surgical techniques continue to evolve, the optimal approach for revascularizing multi-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a matter of ongoing debate. Accordingly, our objective was to compare and contrast various surgical techniques utilized in the management of multi-vessel CAD. A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane central register of controlled trials from inception to May 2022. Random-effects network meta-analysis was performed for the primary outcome; target vessel revascularization (TVR), and secondary outcomes; mortality, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, postoperative myocardial infarction, new-onset atrial fibrillation, stroke, new-onset dialysis, in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a stent, off-pump coronary bypass graft, on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (ONCABG), hybrid coronary revascularization, minimally-invasive coronary artery bypass, or robot-assisted coronary artery bypass (RCAB) surgeries. A total of 8841 patients were included from 23 studies. The analysis showed that ONCABG had the highest freedom from TVR, with a mean (SD) absolute risk of 0.027 (0.029); although ONCABG was found to be superior to all other methods, it was only significantly better than first-generation stent PCI. While RCAB did not demonstrate significant superiority over other treatments, it showed a greater probability of preventing postoperative complications. Notably, no significant heterogeneity was calculated for any of the reported outcomes. ONCABG shows a better rank probability compared to all other techniques for preventing TVR, while RCAB offers greater freedom from most postoperative complications. However, given the absence of randomized controlled trials, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Is it feasible to treat atrial fibrillation at the time of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting?

Coronary artery bypass grafting remains the most common operation performed by cardiac surgeons. As a result, a cardiac surgeon with a typical practice will most commonly encounter atrial fibrillation when performing coronary artery bypass grafting. In this review, we first emphasize the importance of treating atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting. We review benefits of concomitant surgical ablation and its importance relative to complete coronary revascularization. We then discuss options to treat atrial fibrillation in a more minimally invasive manner in these patients, while still preserving treatment efficacy. Surgical ablation at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery could be as important as complete revascularization. Bi-atrial ablation provides superior rhythm control compared to left-sided ablation only. We highlight various options for surgical ablation at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, and provide an algorithm for ablation in individual patients.

Issues and considerations in perioperative management of robotic coronary bypass grafting.

Issues and considerations in perioperative management of robotic coronary bypass grafting.

Historical landmarks in the development of robotic coronary bypass grafting.

Historical landmarks in the development of robotic coronary bypass grafting.