NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioThoracic Systems, Inc.'s (CTS)
(Nasdaq: CTSI) vision of beating heart bypass was endorsed at the "Facts and
Myths of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery" conference held January 24, 1998
in New Orleans, LA.  In a survey of over 300 of the world's leading
cardiothoracic surgeons conducted at the conference, 92 percent believe that
the majority of future patients requiring bypass surgery will benefit from a
minimally invasive (beating heart) coronary artery bypass procedure.
    During the "Facts and Myths of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery"
conference, co-chaired by Hani Shennib, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery at
McGill University in Montreal, Quebec Canada and Michael Mack, MD Director of
Heart and Lung Transplantation, Medical City Dallas Hospital, over 35
scientific presentations by some of the premier, minimally invasive
cardiothoracic surgeons worldwide focused on the most recent clinical
experiences and outcomes in the field.  Their results concur with CTS' belief
that a significant number of bypass patients would benefit from minimally
invasive bypass surgery and that minimally invasive bypass surgery will have a
dramatic reduction in mortality, morbidity and cost.  The clinical studies
showed comparable clinical results between minimally invasive bypass surgery
and traditional cardiopulmonary coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
It was also reported that mechanical stabilization technology, including the
CTS multi-vessel systems, made beating heart bypass safe and reproducible with
consistent excellent clinical outcomes.
    Dr. Antonio Calafiore, Professor of Cardiac Surgery and Chief Department
of Cardiac Surgery of Chieti University in Chieti, Italy and a world renowned
leader in minimally invasive bypass surgery, reported dramatic improvements in
surgical ease and clinical outcomes in his beating heart bypass patients with
the use of CTS stabilization technology.  His results were presented at the
conference in his paper, "Techniques and Results Pre- and Post Stabilization
Era," in which he reported on over 500 patients before and after the use of
CTS stabilization technology in performing minimally invasive bypass surgery.
Dr. Calafiore results demonstrated  shorter operative times, reduced length of
hospital stays, decreased incidence of repeat revascularization and increased
event free survival since the introduction a year ago of the CTS LIMA-
Lift(TM), Platform and Stabilizer.
    Dr. Valavanur Subramanian, Director Department of Surgery of Lenox Hill
Hospital, NY and a pioneer and innovator in minimally invasive surgery,
reported clinical outcomes on over 2,000 patients in the CTS MIDCAB(TM)
Patient Registry.  These results were comparable to, or better than, CABG and
were evident even in high-risk patients.
    Drs. Calafiore and Subramanian agree that the real turning point in
improved clinical outcomes in minimally invasive beating bypass surgery came
with the introduction of the CTS stabilization instrumentation.
    CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., Cupertino, Calif., is a leading developer of
proprietary technologies in minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery.  The
company's current products are designed to enable cardiothoracic surgeons to
perform minimally invasive bypass surgery on a beating heart.  CTS is also
developing technologies in the areas of minimally invasive valve repair and
replacement and saphenous vein harvesting.  The company's stock is traded on
the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol CTSI.
    This news release contains forward-looking information that involves risks
and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the clinical
benefits of minimally invasive bypass surgery, the performance and
capabilities of the company's products, the success of the company's
development efforts as well as the market acceptance of CTS products,
procedures and programs.  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, 1997
and the company's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 1997.  Copies of the Annual
Report on Form 10-K are available by calling the company's investor relations
department at 408/342-1700.

    For more information on CardioThoracic Systems, Inc. via fax at no cost,
dial 800/PRO-INFO or 908/544-2850 outside the U.S.  Ticker symbol: CTSI.

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