Adam B. Greenbaum

Stories

First coronary bypass without opening the chest

Senior author on VECTOR study; has performed procedure on two patients

For nearly six decades, coronary artery bypass surgery has required cracking open the chest—a procedure performed more than 300,000 times annually in the United States alone. In May 2025, a team at Emory University and the National Institutes of Health performed the first human coronary bypass through blood vessels in the leg, leaving the chest intact. The 67-year-old patient, who had no other surgical options, showed no complications at six-month follow-up.

Updated May 26

Notable Quotes

"Our patient had an extensive history of prior interventions, vascular disease, and other confounders, which meant that open-heart surgery was completely off the table. Having a minimally invasive alternative in a case like this is paramount."

from First coronary bypass without opening the chest · Updated May 26

"We thought, 'why don't we just move the ostium of the coronary artery out of the danger zone?'"

from First coronary bypass without opening the chest · Updated May 26

"We can't let industry drive all the innovation because it takes too long to get through the regulatory process, and patients can't wait that long."

from First coronary bypass without opening the chest · Updated May 26