Minimally invasive coronary artery surgery is becoming a popular additionto the standard cardiac bypass surgery in selectedpatients with accessible single or double vesseldisease. However, the limited anterior thoracotomyused to access the heart involves traumato the muscle tissue during removal of the fourthcostal cartilage and a small piece of connectedrib, perhaps leading to more severe postoperativepain compared with patients undergoingroutine sternotomy.