This Article Full Text (PDF) References 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 Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ghotbi, M. S. Articles by Ramsay, J. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ghotbi, M. S. Articles by Ramsay, J. G. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: Impact on Resource Usage, Costs, Length of Stay, and Return to Function

Emory University Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Atlanta, GA

James G. Ramsay

Emory University Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Atlanta, GA

"Minimally invasive" approaches to coronary artery surgery include a number of procedures, most of which avoid the use of extracorporeal circulation. Economic considerations have contributed to the rising interest in these techniques. This article reviews current literature and potential ways in which these procedures may reduce overall costs. Several studies have reported decreased mean length of stay and overall hospital costs in patients undergoing off-bypass or "beating heart" procedures. Most of these studies have included small numbers of patients and have lacked long-term follow-up data. Prospective randomized trials are needed to conclusively establish these early findings. Copyright© 1999 by W. B. Saunders Company.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?