Perfusion strategies for totally endoscopic cardiac surgery.

For most of totally endoscopic cardiac procedures femoro-femoral perfusion techniques are necessary. Use of selective bicaval as well as single venous drainage is described. Furthermore, the use of different intraaortic balloons for aortic occlusion is explained and illustrated.

[Robotic coronary artery surgery: past, present and future].

Minimally invasive endoscopic procedures in cardiac surgery have only become possible since the introduction of telemanipulator systems. In this study we review robotic assisted telemanipulation systems and procedures on beating and arrested heart for total endoscopic revascularization. Robotic surgery is still under development.

Current status of robotically assisted coronary revascularization.

This article reviews the current status of totally endoscopic coronary revascularization using telemanipulation systems for robotic assistance. Current challenges in implementing a robotic surgical program are discussed, and application of the technology in both arrested and beating heart procedures is considered.

Risk of gas embolism in hand-assisted versus total laparoscopic hepatic resection.

Laparoscopic hepatic resection represents an alternative to open surgery in patients with advanced underlying hepatic disease. Management of haemorrhage and the risk of gas embolism are the major problems in laparoscopic liver surgery. In this study, safety and efficacy of liver dissection using ultrasonic energy was investigated in hand-assisted versus total laparoscopic surgery.