Hybrid coronary artery revascularization – a less traumatic surgical and catheter based option for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease

Introduction: Hybrid coronary artery revascularization follows the principle that a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is the best option for proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesions. For non-LAD targets, however, new catheter based techniques including drug eluting stent (DES) placement seem to achieve results similar to coronary bypass grafts. Telemanipulation technology has enabled completely endoscopic LIMA to LAD placement. These facts have led to a revival of the hybrid concept.