Three-dimensional computed tomography for reoperative minimally invasive coronary artery bypass

We have been using three-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) in reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting performed by using a minimally invasive approach. Preoperative 3-D CT scanning can provide beneficial anatomical information about old patent grafts as well as the internal thoracic artery. Thus a mini-thoracotomy can be created at an optimal site, leaving the old graft untouched, and the length of the harvested internal thoracic artery, necessary for the bypass, can be assessed using this new modality.