System Enables Surgeons to Perform Double, Triple, Quadruple and Five-Vessel
                           Off-Pump Bypass Surgery

    CUPERTINO, Calif., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioThoracic Systems, Inc.
(CTS) (Nasdaq: CTSI) announced today that it has begun commercial shipments of
the ACCESS MV(TM) System, the next generation of its beating heart bypass
system designed to enable surgeons to perform multiple vessel off-pump
coronary artery bypass surgery.
    Over the last few weeks, coronary artery bypass surgeries involving
double, triple, quadruple and five-vessel grafts have been performed using the
ACCESS MV System.  Last week, Dr. Richard Ott, Cardiac Surgeon and Associate
Professor at University of California, Irvine, performed the second
five-vessel off-pump procedure.  Dr. Ott commented, "With the CTS ACCESS MV
System, we were able to perform a five-vessel coronary artery bypass procedure
without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).  Use of the CTS system made this
procedure safe and easy.  Access to the target arteries was both efficient and
effective.  With this new instrumentation, off-pump bypass is now a technique
that can easily be adopted by most cardiac surgeons.  Avoidance of CPB has
obvious advantages in patient safety and recovery."
    "Our second generation system is a key addition to the CTS product line,"
said Richard Ferrari, CTS president and chief executive officer.  "With the
ACCESS MV System, surgeons now have the tools to perform multiple vessel
bypass surgery on all three of the major vascular beds supplying blood to the
heart.  Many surgeons have asked for improved technology to reach more vessels
of the heart and thereby bring the benefits of beating heart bypass to more of
their patients.  We believe that the ACCESS MV, a logical extension of our
pioneering work, provides this technology advancement."
    Dr. Albert Pfister, Senior Cardiac Surgeon at Washington Hospital Center
who has performed many off-pump bypass surgeries, said, "The new CTS ACCESS MV
System is the best stabilization system on the market.  The ability to do
multi-vessel revascularization with this system is a significant recent
technological advance in beating heart surgery."
    The ACCESS MV toolset is designed to give surgeons greater anatomical
reach and provide increased stabilization of the heart, providing easier
access and facilitating multiple vessel off-pump coronary artery bypass
procedures.  The new ACCESS MV Stabilizer incorporates an improved design
which is lengthened and formed in an arc so that surgeons can reach more
remote areas of the heart through various access points.  In addition, the
Stabilizer is equipped with a lockable articulating foot that allows it to
conform to the contours of the heart and utilizes CTS' new proprietary
EPI-GRIP(TM) technology that improves the presentation and isolation of the
bypass site.
    Dr. Fidel Realyvasquez, Director, Cardiovascular Surgery at Redding
Medical Center, commented, "The second generation CTS system is a real
advancement for the cardiac surgeons' armamentarium to perform multi-vessel
coronary artery bypass surgery on the beating heart.  In our experience, this
technique is being used in an increasing number of patients."
    CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., Cupertino, Calif., is a leading developer of
proprietary technologies in minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery.  The
company's first released product, the CTS MIDCAB(TM) System, is a single-use
set of instruments designed to enable cardiothoracic surgeons to perform
minimally invasive cardiac 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, including statements regarding demand for CTS products,
the company's new products and products under development and the capabilities
and commercialization of the ACCESS MV System, contains forward-looking
information that involves risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties
associated with availability and market acceptance of new products, clinical
adoption of beating heart procedures and competitive products and procedures.
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
quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 8, 1997.  Copies of the annual report on Form 10-K and
the quarterly report on Form 10-Q 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 (908-544-2850 outside the U.S.), ticker symbol: CTSI.

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