Surgical problems and complex procedures: issues for operative time in robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Robotically assisted totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) is a viable option for closed chest coronary surgery, but it requires learning curves and longer operative times. This study evaluated the effect of extended operation times on the outcome of patients undergoing TECAB.
Methods: From 2001 to 2009, 325 patients underwent TECAB with the da Vinci telemanipulation system. Correlations between operative times and preoperative, intraoperative, and early postoperative parameters were investigated. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to define the threshold of the procedure duration above which intensive care unit stay and ventilation time were prolonged. Demographic data, intraoperative and postoperative parameters, and survival data were compared.
Results: Patients with prolonged operative times more often underwent multivessel revascularization (P < .001) and beating-heart TECAB (P =.023). Other preoperative parameters were not associated with longer operative times. Incidences of technical difficulties and conversions (P < .001) were higher among patients with longer operative times. Prolonged intensive care unit stay, mechanical ventilation, hospital stay, and with requirement of blood products were associated with longer operative times. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed operative times >445 minutes and >478 minutes to predict prolonged (>48 hours) intensive care unit stay and mechanical ventilation, respectively. Patients with procedures >478 minutes had longer hospital stays and higher perioperative morbidity and mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed decreased survival among patients with operative times >478 minutes.
Conclusions: Multivessel revascularization and conversions lead to prolonged operative times in totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting. Longer operative times significantly influence early postoperative and midterm outcomes.
(Copyright © 2012 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)