title: Mid-term patency after magnetic coupling for distal bypass anastomosis in coronary surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The magnetic vascular positioner (MVP), a device for distal bypass anastomosis in coronary surgery, was developed to allow a simple and rapid procedure and to improve graft patency. We analyze our mid-term results with this device.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen distal anastomoses were performed by using the MVP, and 18 with a hand-sewn technique were completed in 11 patients. The target arteries for the MVP anastomosis were the left anterior descending in 9 patients, a marginal branch in 4, a diagonal branch in 3, and right coronary artery in 2. The left internal thoracic artery was used as graft in 9 patients, saphenous vein in 6, right internal thoracic artery in 2, and radial artery in 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coronary angiography was performed at discharge and after a complete follow-up of 19 +/- 3.5 months. Patency at follow-up was 83.3% (15/18) for MVP anastomoses and 100% (18/18) for hand-sewn anastomoses. All occluded MVP anastomoses were performed with small-size devices. In one patient, a high-grade left main stenosis was overestimated. Competitive flow may be suspected in this case as a cause of graft occlusion. No deaths occurred during hospital stay or during follow-up. Freedom from reintervention was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MVP is the only mechanical connector for distal anastomoses applicable for all kind of grafts, for all coronary artery locations, and with both end-to-side and side-to-side technique. Mid-term patency of MVP anastomoses is acceptable but inferior to the patency of hand-sewn anastomoses. Occlusion of MVP supplied grafts may be produced by small device size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Grosshadern Medical Centre, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, München, Germany. calin.vicol@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Calin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vicol
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eifert
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oberhoffer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boekstegers
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000601:surgery; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency