ObjectiveTo investigate the early clinical efficacy of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) for multivessel coronary artery disease. MethodsThe patients who received off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in the Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2021 to June 2023 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the operative technique used, including a traditional midline sternotomy group where the full median sternotomy was performed, and a left chest small incision group where left anterior mini-thoracotomy was performed. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 143 patients were enrolled, including 70 patients in the traditional midline sternotomy group and 73 patients in the left chest small incision group. The age of the patients in the left chest small incision group and the traditional midline sternotomy group was 63.8±8.0 years and 63.0±7.8 years, respectively; the proportions of males were 69.9% and 74.3%, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). All patients in the two groups successfully completed the operation, and no patients in the left chest small incision group were converted to thoracotomy. The patients in the left chest small incision group showed less postoperative drainage within postoperative 24 hours (239.4±177.7 mL vs. 338.0±151.9 mL, P<0.001), lower perioperative blood transfusion rate [32.9% (24/73) vs. 51.4% (36/70), P=0.028], higher postoperative myoglobin level within postoperative 24 hours [366.1 (247.9, 513.0) ng/mL vs. 220.8 (147.2, 314.9) ng/mL, P<0.001], shorter intensive care unit stay [45.5 (31.5, 67.5) h vs. 68.0 (46.0, 78.5) h, P=0.001] and postoperative hospital stay (10.8±4.0 d vs. 13.1±5.3 d, P=0.028] compared to the traditional midline sternotomy group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event between the two groups [2.7% (2/73) vs. 2.9% (2/70), P=1.000]. ConclusionCompared to the full median sternotomy, MICS CABG leads to a good clinical result with smaller trauma, faster overall recovery, and less perioperative blood transfusion.