Fenestrated felt facilitates anastomotic stability and safety in "off-pump" coronary bypass.
Metal stabilizing devices used in beating heart surgery, although largely effective, occasionally slip or cause lacerations of epicardial veins or myocardium, resulting in blood loss that requires time-consuming corrective maneuvers. The use of a fenestrated felt as a cushion in conjunction with the stabilizers eliminates slipping and/or trauma, thus facilitating coronary anastomoses on the beating heart.
Department of Surgery, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts 01107, USA.
J A
JA
Rousou
R M
RM
Engelman
J E
JE
Flack
D W
DW
Deaton
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans