The Minimally Invasive Coronary Surgery Compared to STernotomy Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Trial (MIST)

May 6, 2026 updated by: Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation

The Minimally Invasive Coronary Surgery Compared to STernotomy Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Randomized Controlled Trial

MICS CABG (Minimally invasive coronary surgery), where coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is completed through a small incision over the left chest, has evolved to become a safe and less invasive alternative to conventional sternotomy CABG. Several observational studies have suggested significantly shorter time to return to physical activity for MICS CABG patients compared to sternotomy CABG patients. A randomized study is warranted to validate these findings, provide higher level of evidence, and potentially lead to changes in practice. The MIST Trial is a multi-centre, prospective, open label, randomized control trial comparing quality of life and recovery in the early post-operative period, between patients undergoing MICS CABG versus patients undergoing sternotomy CABG. Patients referred for isolated CABG for multi-vessel coronary artery disease and deemed technically suitable for sternotomy CABG as well as for MICS CABG are considered for enrollment into the trial. Quality of life questionnaires (The SF-36, Seattle Angina Questionnaire and EQ-5D-5L) will be used to assess the quality of life and recovery in patients undergoing sternotomy CABG or MICS CABG at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months follow up.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
176

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Belgium
      • Leuven, Belgium
        • Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1Y 4W7
        • Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
        • University Health Network
  • China
    • Jilin
      • Jilin, Jilin, China, 130117
        • Jilin Heart Hospital
  • Germany
      • Stuttgart, Germany
        • Robert-Bosch-Hospital
    • Saxony
      • Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
        • Leipzig Heart Institute GmbH
  • India
    • Karnataka
      • Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560041
        • Apollo Hospital, Bangalore
    • National Capital Territory of Delhi
      • New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India
        • Manipal Hospitals
  • Japan
    • Chiba
      • Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
        • Tokyo Bay Urayasu Ichikawa Medical Center
  • Singapore
      • Singapore, Singapore
        • National University Hospital (NUH) - Singapore
  • Taiwan
    • Taipei
      • Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, 220
        • Far-Eastern Memorial Hospital
  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    • Wisconsin
      • La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States, 54601
        • Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Angiographically-confirmed multi-vessel coronary artery disease lesions with >=70% in at least 2 major epicardial vessels in 2 or more coronary artery territories (left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (CX) and right coronary artery (RCA)) OR lesions >=50% in the left main (LM)
  • Patients who, in the opinion of the investigator, are amenable for coronary surgery through either median sternotomy or minimally-invasive approach.
  • Patients who are willing and able to comply with all follow-up study visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • <18 years of age
  • concomitant cardiac procedure with CABG (e.g. valve repair or replacement)
  • Previous cardiac surgery, mediastinal irradiation, or significant trauma to the chest
  • Contra-indications for MICS CABG, including: severe pectus excavatum; severe pulmonary disease; hemodynamically significant left subclavian stenosis; morbid obesity; severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction; no adequate PDA or marginal branch target; absence of femoral pulse bilaterally.
  • Contraindications for conventional CABG via sternotomy
  • Concomitant life-threatening disease likely to limit life expectancy to <2 years
  • Emergency CABG with hemodynamic compromise
  • Inability to provide informed consent.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: CABG with sternotomy
Patients in this group will undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the usual way, through an incision in the middle of the chest, through the breastbone or sternum (conventional CABG).
Procedure: Conventional CABG
Coronary artery bypass grafting performed through an incision through the sternum or breastbone.
Other Names:
  • coronary artery bypass grafting via sternotomy
Experimental: Minimally-invasive CABG
Patients in this group will undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using a minimally-invasive approach (MICS CABG), through smaller incisions between the ribs.
Procedure: MICS CABG
Coronary artery bypass grafting performed through small incisions between the ribs.
Other Names:
  • Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of life - physical function
Time Frame: Surgery to 4 weeks post-op

Comparison of the physical quality of life between the two groups four weeks after surgery using the physical function score of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The physical function score is a scale from 0 (poor physical function) to 100 (excellent physical function, with an average score of 50. It includes items that assess physical functioning, bodily pain, physical role functioning, vitality, and generally health perceptions.

Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to 4 weeks post-op

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events (MACCE) and Target Vessel Revascularization (TVR)
Time Frame: Surgery to study completion (average of 1 year after surgery.)

A composite endpoint of mortality, peri-operative myocardial infarction, non-peri-operative myocardial infarction, stroke, and new CABG or PCI associated with documented ischemia.

Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to study completion (average of 1 year after surgery.)
Number of bypass grafts
Time Frame: During coronary artery bypass surgery
A comparison of the mean number of bypass grafts performed between the two groups Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
During coronary artery bypass surgery
Percentage of arterial grafts
Time Frame: During coronary artery bypass surgery

A comparison of the percentage of bypass grafts that are arterial between the groups.

Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
During coronary artery bypass surgery
Intra-operative transfusion
Time Frame: During coronary artery bypass surgery
A comparison of the number of transfusions during surgery between the groups Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
During coronary artery bypass surgery
Post-operative transfusion
Time Frame: Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
A comparison of the number of transfusions after surgery between the groups Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Re-exploration for bleeding
Time Frame: Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
The incidence of re-exploration for bleeding after surgery Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Post-operative pain
Time Frame: Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Measurement of patient's subjective assessment of their pain after surgery using a visual analog scale Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Duration of intubation
Time Frame: Time of arrival in the Intensive Care Unit until extubation. (average of 12 hours.)
Comparison of the average duration of intubation between groups Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Time of arrival in the Intensive Care Unit until extubation. (average of 12 hours.)
Length of ICU stay
Time Frame: Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Comparison of the average number of days spent in Intensive Care Unit between groups Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Length of hospital stay
Time Frame: Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Comparison of the average number of days spent in hospital between groups Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Atrial fibrillation
Time Frame: Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to hospital discharge (average of 7 days)
Wound infection
Time Frame: Surgery to 2-months post-op
Incidence of wound infections in each group Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to 2-months post-op
Angina
Time Frame: Surgery to 4-weeks post-op

Prevalence of anginal symptoms, as measured by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. The SAQ includes scales that measure physical limitation, stability of angina, frequency of angina, satisfaction with treatment, and perception of disease, each of which is measured on a scale of 0 to 100 where higher scores indicate better function or health.

Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to 4-weeks post-op
Quality of Life - mental function
Time Frame: Surgery to 4-weeks post-op

Comparison of the mental quality of life between the two groups four weeks after surgery using the mental component score of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The mental function score is a scale from 0 (poor mental quality of life) to 100 (excellent mental quality of life), with an average score of 50. It includes items that assess vitality, general health perceptions, emotional role functioning, social role functioning, and mental health.

Analysis restricted to high-volume recruiting centers (>10 patients through study).
Surgery to 4-weeks post-op

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
London Health Sciences Centre
Medtronic
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Carolinas Medical Center
Heart Center Leipzig - University Hospital
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute
Gundersen Lutheran Health System
Jilin Heart Hospital
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited
Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital
Ichinomiya-Nishi Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Marc Ruel, MD, Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 31, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 6, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 21, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 27, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 20180008

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be made available to other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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