Patients often have significant pain and wound complications postoperatively.
A lower mini-sternotomy approach in 4 patients was performed from December 1998 through January 1999. The length of mini-sternotomy incision is 7 to 14cm. These operations were accomplished without morbidity or mortality. No patients required intraoperative conversion to conventional bypass. Postoperative angiography showed patency of graft without stenosis of the anastomosis in all 4 patients.