(WYNNEWOOD, PA; February 12, 2007) -- There's a growing new development in heart surgery now being performed at the Main Line Health Heart Center at Lankenau Hospital that doctors say combine the best of both worlds - minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and angioplasty/stenting.

It's called the Cardiac Hybrid Procedure, in which the heart surgeon and interventional cardiologist collaborate to provide selected patients with the most effective and least traumatic approach. Patients experience significantly less pain, less bleeding, heal faster and have only three tiny incisions 1 to 3 finger breadths wide to show for it, as compared to the long 14 inch chest incision from the traditional CABG.

Francis Sutter, DO, Clinical Professor of Surgery and Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Lankenau, is among an elite group of heart surgeons in the United States performing the hybrid. In January, Dr. Sutter presented, "A New Frontier in Coronary Revascularization - Collaborative Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease," on behalf of Intuitive Surgical, makers of the da Vinci® Surgical System, at The Society of Thoracic Surgeon's annual meeting in San Diego, CA.

"When faced with the decision, patients would opt for stenting their blocked arteries because they fear having a long incision and their chest cracked open. Its associated pain and long recovery from a traditional CABG," Dr. Sutter explained. "Stenting is not always the best option though, especially if the blockage is in the artery on the left side of the heart called the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. The left ventricle, which receives blood supply from the (LAD), is responsible for pushing blood to the whole body. Many times, stents are not optimal for this particular artery and if attempted, must be redone."

Many patients now have an option thanks to advancements in robotic technology. Through a small incision on the left side of the chest, Dr. Sutter uses the da Vinci robot to bypass the LAD with the nearby left internal mammary artery (LIMA). He emphasizes that surgical treatment of the LAD offers the best life long survival rate when the LIMA is used, compared to veins from the patient's legs or compared to stents. If the patient has blockages on the right side of the heart, the artery is stented by the cardiologist. These right sided blockages are more difficult to be reached using the robot, the stents work well in this area.

Dr. Sutter noted the majority of patients undergoing minimally invasive coronary artery bypass leave the hospital in less than three days and are on their way to functional recovery in one to two weeks. "Patients are ecstatic and can't believe how quickly they are feeling fantastic and did not have to have their chest cracked open," he adds. "A picture paints a thousand words."

Media Contact:
Frieda Schmidt
610-645-3311
schmidtf@mlhs.org

Published:2-12-2007