Operative techniques for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) have evolved dramatically over the past decade to include a wide demographic of patients. Mastering a variety of cannulation techniques is of paramount importance in performing a safe perfusion strategy and operation. Our aim is to describe cannulation strategies utilized in various MICS procedures.

We review numerous cannulation strategies and their application in different minimally invasive procedures.

Cannulation strategies will vary depending on the MICS procedure and other anatomical variations and obstacles. Utilizing the appropriate cannulation strategy will allow for a safe and effective operation.

Mastering the art of cannulation will provide surgeons with a toolbox to choose from when performing MICS in a wide variety of procedures.