The Heart Surgery Forum, Volume 5, Issue 3

Total Myocardial Revascularization Fifth International Symposium: An Introduction

Dimitri Novitzky, MD

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

EXCERPT

On March 15-16, 2002, an exceptional group of surgeons and physicians met at Tampa General Hospital to participate in the symposium ≥Total Myocardial Revascularization Without Cardiopulmonary Bypass.≈ During this stimulating two-day meeting, the outstanding international faculty provided insight into this constantly evolving technology, expanding our knowledge of patient selection and surgical techniques, with a particular focus on how to ensure complete myocardial revascularization without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass.

Myocardial revascularization without the use of the heartlung machine actually predates coronary artery bypass with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. In 1962, Sabiston performed the first coronary artery bypass graft on a beating heart using a vein as a conduit. Likewise, Kolessov revascularized the left side of the heart through a left thoracotomy in a series of patients without the use of a heart-lung machine. Using the left internal mammary artery, he grafted the left anterior descending coronary artery without resorting to a mechanical stabilization device. Kolessov≠s experience was eventually published in an American journal in 1967. Subsequent advances in the technology undoubtedly resulted from the pioneering contributions of many innovative surgeons, including Favaloro, Buffolo, and Benetti.

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