Announcement made at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for
                               Thoracic Surgery

    CUPERTINO, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioThoracic Systems, Inc.
(CTS) (Nasdaq: CTSI), a pioneer in minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery,
today announced the launch of three products, the CTS AccessPLUS(TM),
OPCAB(TM) System, the MIDCAB(TM) Thoracotomy Modular Lift Set and Stabilizer
Set and the Ceres(TM) SV System.  The AccessPLUS and the MIDCAB Thoracotomy
Modular Sets are designed to provide access to coronary arteries during
beating heart bypass procedures.  The Ceres SV System is applied in the
endoscopic harvesting of the saphenous vein, which is often used to bypass
blocked coronary arteries during surgery.  Together, these three products
provide cardiothoracic surgeons with a complete systems approach for minimally
invasive total revascularization of the beating heart.
    The AccessPLUS, the third generation product in the OPCAB(TM) family, was
designed specifically to meet the needs of a multi-vessel beating heart bypass
procedure from a mid-sternal approach.  It features large, offset,
C-shaped blades for a more secure fit, and provides a wider sternal opening
when fully engaged.  Its six stabilizer mounting points provide the surgeon
with access to all coronary arteries from the most optimal angle, enabling
total off-pump revascularization of the heart.
    The Modular Lift Set, a second generation MIDCAB product, is used for
optimal lifting of the ribs, enabling direct visualization of the internal
mammary artery, a vessel commonly used to bypass blocked coronary arteries.
It includes a variety of instruments that can be assembled with either long or
standard length blades -- with or without xenon light.  The Modular Stabilizer
Set offers multiple configurations, better enabling the surgeon to steady the
artery while performing beating heart bypass.  The system features a
disposable common drive mechanism, and gives the surgeon the flexibility to
build a beating heart bypass system that best matches the patient's anatomy.
    The Ceres SV System incorporates task-specific instruments, including
unique, bipolar scissors requiring lower energy settings, a blunt dissector
with suction capability, and a harvesting instrument with smoke evacuation.
The endoscopic technique requires a limited number of three-to-four centimeter
incisions versus the full leg incision necessary for the traditional saphenous
vein harvesting procedure.
    "These products work together to facilitate total revascularization of the
beating heart by making vessel access easier," stated Richard Ferrari, CTS
president and CEO.  "With the CTS AccessPLUS, surgeons now have more
flexibility to reach coronary vessels on the back of the heart.  This further
expands the number of patients capable of being treated off-pump and,
ultimately, will help reduce the trauma, procedural costs and post-surgical
complications associated with conventional artery bypass graft surgery."  He
added, "With the FloCoil(TM) Shunt and the addition of the Ceres SV System,
which allows the harvesting of high-quality saphenous veins with easier,
faster patient recovery, CTS has established itself as a leader in minimally
invasive cardiac care."
    CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., located in Cupertino, Calif., is a leading
developer of proprietary technologies in minimally invasive cardiothoracic
surgery.  CTS introduced its first generation system for minimally invasive
beating heart bypass surgery in January 1997.  Since that time, over 11,000
beating heart bypass procedures, including midline and thorocotomy approaches,
have been performed using CTS' propriety instruments.  CTS is also developing
technologies in the area of minimally invasive valve repair.
    This news release contains forward-looking information that involves risks
and uncertainties including uncertainties associated with the capabilities of
the CTS instrumentation and methods and the success of the company's
development efforts.  Actual results may differ significantly from the results
discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of those and other
factors, including factors set forth in the company's annual report on Form
10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1998.
Copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available by calling the
company's investor relations department at 408-342-1700.

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