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Ann Thorac Surg 2002;73:1180-1184
© 2002 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Original article: cardiovascular

Endoscopic internal thoracic artery dissection leads to significant reduction of pain after minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft surgery

^a Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heartcenter, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

Accepted for publication November 15, 2001.

* Address reprint requests to Dr Bucerius, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heartcenter, University of Leipzig, Strümpellstrasse 39, 04289 Leipzig, Germany
e-mail: bucerj{at}medizin.uni-leipzig.de

	Abstract

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Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative pain levels after endoscopic versus conventional internal thoracic artery (ITA) dissection for minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft surgery (MIDCABG) surgery. Results were compared with pain levels associated with conventional cardiac bypass operations through a median sternotomy.

Methods. Of 190 patients included in this prospective study, 24 patients had endoscopic ITA takedown (MIDCABG-endo) using the da Vinci telemanipulator followed by a manual coronary anastomosis through a left minithoracotomy. A conventional MIDCABG operation (MIDCABG-conv) was performed in 73 patients with ITA preparation under direct vision. Postoperative pain levels after conventional CABG through a median sternotomy (CABG-conv, n = 93) served as controls. A standarized questionnaire including visual analog scale (VAS) was used for prospective pain assessment from POD 1 to 7.

Results. Pain levels (VAS) declined in all groups from POD 1 to 7. Overall pain levels were significantly lower in the MIDCABG-endo group as compared with MIDCABG-conv and CABG-conv groups, respectively (p < 0.001, general linear model). There was no significant difference between the MIDCABG-conv and CABG-conv (p = not significant, general linear model) groups. Furthermore, patients after MIDCABG-endo required fewer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid medications, postoperatively.

Conclusions. An endoscopic ITA takedown in MIDCABG surgery leads to significantly reduced postoperative pain levels possibly because of less rib retraction.

	Introduction

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Among the potential advantages of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft (MIDCABG) surgery are reduction of trauma, better cosmetic results, and faster recovery. Significantly higher pain levels have been reported for MIDCABG on the first 2 postoperative days when compared with standard CABG procedures [1–3]. Intercostal application of local anesthetic agents or intraoperative cryoablation of the fifth intercostal nerve have been subsequently introduced [3].

In order to further minimize surgical access computer-enhanced endoscopic techniques have been introduced. Using the da Vinci telemanipulation system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA) total endoscopic bypass grafting has been achieved [4, 5]. By avoiding the rib retraction necessary for internal thoracic artery (ITA) dissection under direct vision, this technique may help to reduce postoperative pain.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate postoperative pain levels after endoscopic computer enhanced versus conventional ITA takedown in MIDCABG surgery. Pain levels after conventional CABG through a median sternotomy served as controls.

	Material and methods

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In all, 190 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were prospectively evaluated. Patients from two subsets were included: after approval from the local ethics committee of the University of Leipzig 48 of the patients receiving MIDCABG had been randomly assigned to either robotic ITA takedown (MIDCABG-endo, n = 24) or conventional MIDCABG (MIDCABG-conv, n = 24). These patients gave written consent to participate in the study. The other 142 patients received routine surgical treatment, either MIDCABG-conv (n = 49) or CABG-conv (n = 93), as indicated by medical demands. All of these patients gave informed consent to participate in this study on postoperative pain assessment. During their preoperative and postoperative course all patients were prospectively evaluated for the study endpoints. Thus from the two subsets three groups emerged for further analysis within this study: MIDCABG-endo (n = 24), MIDCABG-conv (n = 73), and CABG-conv (n = 93).

The patients receiving MIDCABG-endo underwent endoscopic computer-enhanced ITA dissection through three thoracic ports using the da Vinci telemanipulation system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA) as described previously [4, 5]. The anastomosis was performed through a conventional left anterior minithoracotomy in the fifth intercostal space on the beating heart. In the MIDCABG-conv group ITA takedown was performed under direct vision by using different rib retractors. Patients received intercostal injection of a single dose of 50 mg bupivacaine (Carbostesin; Astrazeneca GmbH, Germany) diluted in 20 mL NaCl.

CABG-conv was performed in patients with two- or three-vessel disease through a median sternotomy on cardiopulmonary bypass.

In all groups anesthesia was initiated with propofol (Disoprivan; Astrazeneca GmbH, Germany), sufentanyl (Sufenta; Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Germany), pancuronium bromide (Pancuronium Curamed; Curamed Pharma GmbH, Germany), and sodium thiopental (Thiopental Nycomed; Nycomed GmbH, Germany) and maintained with sufentanil (Sufenta; Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Germany) and propofol (Disoprivan; Astrazeneca GmbH, Germany) according to the standard protocol of the Department of Anesthesiology, Heartcenter, University of Leipzig. There were no differences between all groups regarding the intraoperative pain management.

All patients received additional morphine-like analgesics (piritramid, Dipidolor, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Germany; tramadol, Tramal, Grünenthal, GmbH, Germany) or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs ([NSAIDs] ibuprofen, Imbun, Merckle GmbH, Germany) during the postoperative period upon demand.

Assessment of postoperative pain was achieved by interview on a daily basis through POD (POD) 7. A standarized questionnaire was used [2]. All interviewers were blinded with regard to the performed surgical procedure. Furthermore, patients were asked not to talk about the operation carried out. If pain medication was requested patients were asked about the time relation between the administration and the verbal interview. In order to avoid lower pain levels due to the applicated pain medication pain levels before administration of pain medication were evaluated in cases of a short time relation.

The pain questionnaire included data concerning pain intensity, character, change in pain intensity over time, localization, occurrence of pain in relation to physical activities, dosage of requested additional pain medication as well as effectiveness of pain medication [2]. Furthermore, patients were asked whether they could breathe, move and perform all other activities without any discomfort. Pain intensity was quantified using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the verbal rating scale (VRS) [2, 3]. None of the patients was on chronic pain medication preoperatively.

Continuous variables are given as mean ± standard deviation, categorical data as proportions. Statistical analysis was performed using a general linear model (GLM) for repeated measures. Preoperative and postoperative data as well as pain levels were compared using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure (SPSS statistical package; SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL).

	Results

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Preoperative patient demographics are shown in Table 1. There were no significant differences between groups regarding age, body surface area and left ventricular ejection fraction (ANOVA).

View larger version (56K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 1. Pain levels for conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG-conv) group, left anterior minithoracotomy (MIDCABG-conv) group, and internal thoracic artery dissection using an endoscopic approach (MIDCABG-endo) group on postoperative days (POD) 2 and 7 according to the verbal rating scale (gray bars = 5, unbearable pain; checked bars = 4, severe pain; open bars = 3, moderate pain; diagonal bars = 2, mild pain; solid bars = 1, no pain).

	Comment

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In an effort to minimize access in cardiac surgery, endoscopic approaches have become more popular. Several potential advantages of less invasive techniques such as reduced trauma, better cosmetic results, and shorter recovery times have been shown by some [4–6]. Postoperative pain and quality of life are important end points after a surgical procedure [7, 8]. We studied postoperative pain levels after endoscopic ITA takedown compared with ITA preparation through a left anterior minithoracotomy and conventional CABG through a median sternotomy. Assessment of pain is difficult because of individual differences in pain perception. A number of scoring systems has therefore been developed allowing for a more objective assessment of pain levels [9, 10]. In agreement with recent studies we found low postoperative pain levels in all groups. Furthermore, this study confirms prior findings that pain levels decreased progressively during the first 7 postoperative days as most patients had only mild pain before discharge. High pain levels were only found on POD 1 to 3 mainly in the MIDCABG-conv group but also in the CABG-conv group. This was an unexpected finding as patients undergoing MIDCABG procedures were intraoperatively treated with anesthetic agents [2, 3]. When comparing pain levels over time (POD 1 through 7) with regard to the different surgical approaches pain was lowest in the MIDCABG-endo group and reached statistical significance in comparison with both the MIDCABG-conv and the CABG-conv groups. However, no significant differences were found between the CABG-conv and the MIDCABG-conv groups.

Additional postoperative opioid medication (piritramid, tramadol) tended to be lower in the MIDCABG-endo group. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups. NSAID medication with ibuprofen was significantly lower from POD 1 to 7 in the MIDCABG-endo group in comparison with both the CABG-conv and the MIDCABG-conv group. Overall demand for pain medication was very low in all groups and lower pain levels in one group cannot be explained by a higher pain medication with the exception of the piritramid medication in the MIDCABG-conv group.

Walther and associates [2] studied postoperative pain levels and quality of life after MIDCABG procedures compared with conventional coronary bypass operations. They found relatively higher pain levels in the MIDCABG group as compared with the conventional approach. These results were confirmed by recent studies by Lichtenberg and associates [11] and Trehan and associates [12]. In both studies, higher postoperative pain levels were observed in the MIDCABG groups as compared with conventional CABG through a median sternotomy and through a ministernotomy for isolated ITA dissection. Furthermore, Trehan and associates [12] found a less requirement for postoperative pain medication in the ministernotomy group in comparison to the MIDCABG group. As a consequence of these results, intraoperative injection of local anesthetic agents in the fifth intercostal space after MIDCABG was introduced [2]. However, pain levels remained still elevated after MIDCABG procedures on the first postoperative days. Therefore, intraoperative cryoablation of the fifth intercostal nerve after lateral minithoracotomy for MIDCABG or mitral valve surgery was introduced [3, 13, 14]. When compared with MIDCABG procedures with injection of local anesthetic agents we found significantly lower postoperative pain levels after intraoperative cryoablation therapy [3]. Furthermore, pain levels in the mitral valve group with anesthetic application were lower as compared with the MIDCABG group with the same treatment. The higher pain levels in the MIDCABG group can be explained by the traumatic spreading of the chest required for ITA dissection under direct vision. The current and prior studies confirm this finding [6, 15]. In a series of 44 patients undergoing video-assisted coronary bypass grafting without rib retraction for ITA harvesting the small anterior thoracotomy was well tolerated in all cases [15]. By avoiding rib retraction using an endoscopic computer-enhanced approach for dissection of the left ITA postoperative pain can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the requirements for additional pain medication can be lowered by using this technique. In conclusion, endoscopic ITA takedown leads to significantly lower postoperative pain and thus to improved quality of life for these patients.

	References

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Thomas Walther Volkmar Falk Anno Diegeler Friedrich W. Mohr Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bucerius, J. Articles by Mohr, F. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bucerius, J. Articles by Mohr, F. W. Related Collections Coronary disease Minimally invasive surgery Related Article