Funcional Recovery After Minithoracotomy or Sternotomy for CABG in Frail Patients

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Frailty, Coronary Artery Disease, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

In brief

Frailty is a major predictor of adverse outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), being associated with increased postoperative complications, prolonged hospitalization, delayed functional recovery, and reduced quality of life. Although minimally invasive coronary surgery (MICS) through left minithoracotomy has been associated with reduced surgical trauma and faster recovery in selected patients, its benefits have not been evaluated in a randomized trial specifically involving frail patients. The MINI FRAGILE trial is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial designed to compare minimally invasive CABG performed through left anterior minithoracotomy with conventional median sternotomy in patients aged 60 years or older with pre-frailty or frailty undergoing surgical coronary revascularization. Eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either surgical approach. The primary objective is to determine whether minimally invasive CABG improves functional recovery, assessed by the change in the physical component of the SF-36 Health Survey 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include major adverse cardiovascular events, mortality, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, return to usual activities, surgical site infection, perioperative complications, postoperative pain, readmission, and adherence to enhanced recovery measures. The results of this trial are expected to provide high-quality evidence regarding the optimal surgical approach for frail patients requiring coronary artery bypass grafting.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07742475
Run by: University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
People needed: 194
Starts: 2026-09-01
Expected to finish: 2027-08-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-08-05

Who can join

Age: 60 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Age 60 years or older.
Diagnosis of coronary artery disease with an established indication for coronary artery bypass grafting.
Coronary anatomy considered suitable for complete surgical revascularization through a left anterolateral minithoracotomy, including suitable distal coronary targets with a luminal diameter of at least 1.5 mm.;
> Alternatively, coronary anatomy suitable for a planned hybrid revascularization strategy, with coronary territories not treated surgically considered amenable to percutaneous coronary intervention.
Presence of pre-frailty or frailty, defined by at least 2 of the following Fried frailty criteria:
Unintentional weight loss of at least 4.5 kg or at least 5% of body weight during the previous year.
Self-reported exhaustion or fatigue.
Reduced handgrip strength.
Slow walking speed.
Low level of physical activity.
Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

Requirement for emergency cardiac surgery.
Planned concomitant cardiac surgical procedure in addition to coronary artery bypass grafting.
Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease involving the femoral vessels that prevents safe peripheral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass, when peripheral cannulation may be required.
Contraindication to left minithoracotomy, including pleural adhesions, pleural thickening, or other thoracic conditions that prevent safe access to the mediastinum through the intercostal space.
Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or another pulmonary condition that prevents safe single-lung ventilation or temporary compression of the left lung.

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.