title: Beneficial impact of aorto-coronary graft markers on post-operative angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When coronary and graft angiography is required for patients with prior coronary artery bypass (CAB) graft surgery, it is often difficult to localize the proximal aorto-coronary graft anastamosis. Our goal was to quantify the potential benefit during subsequent angiography if the proximal anastamosis is marked by an aorto-coronary graft marker at the time of CAB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of 414 angiograms that were performed for patients with prior CAB. Cohorts with an without graft markers were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group with aorto-coronary graft markers and > or = 2 aorto-coronary grafts, there were significant reductions in fluoroscopy time (30.5%, p < 0.0001), contrast volume (21.7%, p < 0.0001), and numbers of angiographic catheters used (17.0%, p = 0.0001). If only one aorto-coronary graft was placed and marked, a trend toward reduced fluoroscopy time was observed (23.8%, p = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the objective benefit supporting routine placement of circumferential aorto-coronary graft markers during CAB, particularly if > 1 graft is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington 98431-5000, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Eisenhauer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Eisenhauer
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cambier
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*