Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) procedures are purported to result in improvements in patient management over standard techniques. A comparative study was performed on risk-stratified patients treated with either technique. Following institutional review board approval, a retrospective random chart review was conducted on 27 MIDCAB and 37 standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients who were operated on over a 12-month period at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Risk stratification was accomplished by dividing the two patient populations, MIDCAB and 'standard', into one of four subgroups based on a preoperative risk score. Risk stratification was achieved by dividing the patient populations into one of four subgroups: good, fair, poor and high risk. Both groups received similar operations and surgical interventions, except for the inclusion of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Approximately 200 parameters were collected and analyzed in the following categories: anthropometric, operative and postoperative outcomes. The MIDCAB group had a significantly lower number of vessels bypassed (2.0+/-0.7 vs 3.4+/-0.9, p < 0.0001). Total postoperative blood product transfusions trended higher in the standard group (6.1+/-12.6 U) when compared to the MIDCAB patients (2.3+/-5.5 U, p < 0.15), although not statistically significant. Postoperative inotrope use was significantly less in the MIDCAB group (19% vs 59%, p < 0.002). Ventilator time in the MIDCAB group was 10.5+/-5.4 h vs 15.0+/-12.3 h in the standard group (p < 0.07). The MIDCAB group had an overall greater length of stay, but was only statistically different within the poor-risk subgroup (12.2+/-10.7 vs 7.5+/-3.9, p < 0.04). The results of this study show that when CPB is not utilized in treating patients undergoing CABG procedures, the benefits in regards to patient outcomes are unclear. This necessitates the need for further work when comparing outcomes for risk-stratified patients.