[Rupture of the internal thoracic artery 6 weeks after MIDCAB operation].

The minimally invasive coronary bypass operation is a procedure that has been firmly established in cardiac surgery for several years now. Only a few reports exist regarding the complications of this procedure. This case study reports on a 51-year-old man who collapsed 27 days after a left-sided internal mammary artery bypass on the anterior interventricular artery, when the bypass vessel ruptured. After pericardial puncture and cardiopulmonary resuscitation the patient was transported via air ambulance to a cardio-surgical center where he was successfully operated upon.