Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting through a left thoracotomy in a patient with terminal tracheostoma

Abstract

A 71-year-old man, who had undergone total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer and had a low cervical terminal tracheostoma, complained of anterior chest oppression, dyspnea on exertion and orthopnea. Coronary angiography revealed triple vessel diseases. He underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting through a left thoracotomy to avoid a sternal wound infection with the left internal thoracic artery and right saphenous vein used as grafts. His postoperative course was uneventful. A deep wound infection following a sternotomy is a serious postoperative complication. A left thoracotomy seemed to be a useful alternative approach in a patient with terminal tracheostoma.