Abstract

Minimally invasive options for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have existed now for some time. Importantly, these interventions centre on not only the approach to accessing the heart itself, but also to the harvest of a patient’s own artery and vein for use as bypass conduits. Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvest is currently well established and the standard of care in many centres worldwide, whereas minimally invasive radial artery harvest is much less supported. Minimally invasive cardiac access and internal thoracic artery harvest, though supported by evidence, are currently only available at a small number of highly specialised centres. The objective of this talk is to examine current evidence in favour of minimally invasive radial artery harvest, and to provide an overview of the future of minimally invasive CABG including hybrid revascularization and surgical robotics.