With the patient’s permission, this video discusses the post-operative journey of an individual who underwent urgent/emergent conventional sternotomy, triple-vessel coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, after developing severe chest pain with ECG changes during a stress test.

As shown in this case, conventional complete surgical revascularization, especially when utilizing arterial grafting, offers exceptional outcomes for patients.

Alternatively, hybrid procedures, combining CABG with PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), may mitigate some surgical risks and allow for less-invasive surgical approaches, such as small-incision thoracotomy (MIDCAB) and robotic (TECAB) procedures.

Both methods – CABG with arterial grafting and hybrid procedures – present distinct advantages and challenges. While CABG with arterial grafting may provide complete surgical revascularization and potential long-term advantages, hybrid approaches may offer less invasive options in select patients, with comparable results. Research on this topic is ongoing.

Therefore, the optimal approach for an individual patient should be determined by a multidisciplinary cardiovascular team, taking into account the patient’s unique requirements and risks.

The Bruce and Robbie Toll Heart and Vascular Institute at Jefferson Health, considers this multidisciplinary collaborative approach to be paramount to achieving quality outcomes.