title: Fatal complications after use of the Symmetry Aortic Connector in coronary artery bypass surgery.
abstract: During the last 2 years, 103 aortic saphenous vein graft anastomoses were performed in 68 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass by using the Symmetry Bypass System Aortic Connector. Of these patients, 2 died during the early postoperative period. In the first patient, after an episode of ventricular fibrillation and closed-chest cardiac massage, the sternum was opened and hemopericardium secondary to leakage of the proximal anastomotic device was found. The second patient died of ascending aortic dissection, the tear of which was likely to have originated from the proximal anastomotic site.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Jarmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biancari
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosorin
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rainio
authors.forename: Tatu S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Juvonen
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepojärvi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000209:etiology; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000209:etiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D014654:Vascular Patency