title: Novel approach to aortic cannulation suturing: tangential suture technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pursestring suture for ascending aortic cannulation in open heart surgery that requires cardiopulmonary bypass may cause serious events, especially in patients who have a thin or calcific aorta. We introduce a novel suturing method, called the 'tangential suture technique', and submit our clinical experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were included in this study. Patients in whom the tangential suture technique was applied (Group A; n = 146) were compared with patients in whom the classic pursestring technique was applied (Group B; n = 152).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age (38 +/- 11 years vs 36 +/- 10 years), sex (males 65.1% vs 62.5%) and operation types were similar in both groups. Although the difference was not significant (P > 0.05), subadventitial haematoma occurred more frequently in Group B (13 patients; 8.6%) than in Group A (3 patients; 2.1%). However, none in Group A required opening the adventitia. No aortic dissection was observed in peri- or postoperative periods in either group. In Group B, seven (4.6%) patients required repair by suture after tying of pursestring sutures following decannulation because of bleeding, while none was required in Group A (P = 0.0156).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tangential suture technique allows the needle to take a longer segment from the media layer while decreasing the likelihood of entering the lumen. Because the tract of the suture almost perfectly fits to the needle curve, tissue injury is less, even on fragile aortas, and this ensures more stable closure of the hole when the suture is tied following decannulation. By considering both its theoretical advantages and our clinical experience, we believe tangential suture technique should be preferred to the classic method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Konuralp
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Idiz
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akçar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013536:Suture Techniques