Less-Invasive Heart Bypass Surgery Speeds Recovery, First Randomized Trial Finds

An international clinical trial, the MIST Trial (Minimally Invasive versus STernotomy), published in The Lancet, has demonstrated that a less-invasive approach to coronary artery bypass surgery (MICS CABG) allows patients to recover more quickly. This technique, developed in Ottawa, uses a small incision between the ribs, avoiding the traditional method of dividing the breastbone. The study found that this minimally invasive method maintains the same safety and one-year outcomes as conventional bypass surgery, offering a significant benefit for patient recovery.