title: Early results and problems with St. Jude Medical Symmetry bypass system in Japan.
abstract: The early results of coronary artery grafting with an aortic connector system were assessed in Japanese patients. From May 2002 through April 2003, 24 consecutive patients underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass using an aortic connector system. Another patient was excluded because the saphenous vein was insufficient for the smallest available aortic connector system. Saphenous veins were harvested from the thigh in 17 (70.8%) patients, and from the lower leg in 7. The size of the aortic connector system was 4.5-5.0 mm in 19 (79.2%) patients. Intraoperative epiaortic echo indicated that a side-clamp was contraindicated in 15 cases. Hemostasis was instantaneous in all patients. There were no hospital deaths and no neurologic morbidity. Pre-discharge angiography revealed 100% patency of the anastomoses. Use of the aortic connector system demonstrated excellent early results with low neurologic morbidity even when employed in the context of an atheromatous ascending aorta. However, smaller sizes of the device are required for some Japanese patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. k-hideki@sc4.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okabayashi
authors.forename: Michiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanyu
authors.forename: Jota
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomoto
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johno
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D016896:Treatment Outcome