Opening the pleura during internal mammary artery harvesting: advantages and disadvantages

Idris M. Ali, MD, FRCSC; Peter Lau, MD; C. Edwin Kinley, MD, MSc, FACS, FRCSC; Abulkasim Sanalla, MD

Canadian Journal of Surgery 1996; 39: 42-45

From the Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, NS

Paper reprints of the full text may be obtained from: Dr. Idris M. Ali, Room 3063, R.C. Dickson Centre, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax NS B3H 2Y9

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the findings of previous studies that opening of the pleura during internal mammary artery (IMA) dissection might be an important factor in increasing the operative morbidity.
Design: A randomized control trial.
Setting: A university hospital.
Patients: Two hundred and eighty consecutive patients with no significant pulmonary disease.
Intervention: Harvesting of the IMA with (130 patients) or without (150 patients) opening the pleura.
Main Outcome Measures: Comparison of the incidence of pleural effusion, cardiac tamponade, postoperative respiratory complications and the hospital stay.
Results: Pleural effusion occurred more often in the patients who had opening of the pleura (20% versus 5%); however, none of the patients required tapping. Postoperative bleeding with cardiac tamponade occurred in five patients in the closed pleura group. Six patients in the open pleura group had postoperative bleeding but without tamponade. The average postoperative hospital stay was 7 days for both groups. No significant differences were recorded in postoperative respiratory complications.
Conclusions: Opening of the pleura during IMA harvesting does not increase the operative morbidity. It may have other advantages and is recommended in most cases of IMA harvesting.
GO TO CJS: Feb. 1996 - GO TO Surgery and orthopedics
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