Is the GraftConnector a valid alternative to running suture in end-to-side coronary arteries anastomoses?
BACKGROUND
An animal study was carried out to compare long-term patency rates of coronary anastomoses performed with the GraftConnector versus running suture technique.


METHODS
10 sheep, 45 to 55 kg, underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (right internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery). In 5 animals, the anastomosis was performed with a GraftConnector and in 5 animals with 7-0 running suture. Intraoperative fluoroscopy and a fluoroscopic control at 6 months were performed. After 6 months, the animals were sacrificed and the anastomoses were examined histologically.


RESULTS
All animals survived at 6 months with 100% anastomosis patency rates in both groups. In the GraftConnector group, the anastomosis diameter at 6 months fluoroscopy was 118% of native left anterior descending artery versus 97% of the control group. Luminal anastomotic width at histology was 1.7 +/- 0.2 mm in the device group versus 1.6 +/- 0.1 mm in the control group. Mean intimal hyperplasia thickness was 0.21 +/- 0.1 mm in the device group versus 0.01 mm in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The GraftConnector provides a consistent and reproducible coronary artery anastomosis and reduces technical demand and manual dexterity in coronary operations. Long-term results demonstrate that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting performed with the GraftConnector had the same patency rate and luminal width as those performed with running suture.
Tozzi
P
P
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. tozzig@hotmail.com
Solem
J O
JO
Boumzebra
D
D
Mucciolo
A
A
Genton
C Y
CY
Chaubert
P
P
von Segesser
L K
LK
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D012756:Sheep; D015607:Stents; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014654:Vascular Patency