Eligibility for Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass: Examination of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Using Computed Tomography.

Objective: A variable that necessitates conversion to a conventional full-sternotomy coronary artery bypass procedure from a robotic-assisted endoscopic single-vessel small thoracotomy is the inability to visualize the left anterior descending coronary artery within the surrounding epicardial adipose tissue using the endoscopic camera. The purpose of this study was to determine whether anatomical properties of the epicardial adipose tissue examined using preoperative computed tomography (CT) images are able to predict and thus reduce the need for intraoperative conversion based on effective preoperative exclusion criteria.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patient preoperative CT angiography scans from both converted (n = 17) and successful robotic-assisted (n = 17) procedures was performed.