Spyder proximal coronary vein graft patency over time: the SPPOT study.
BACKGROUND
Clampless proximal anastomoses are associated with fewer strokes in coronary artery bypass (CAB) graft surgery, but lack of patency of proximal grafts has been an issue. The Spyder (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) is an "exoconnector" device that deploys a nitinol clamping mechanism to attach a vein onto the aortotomy and create the proximal anastomosis.


METHODS
During a 22-month period we performed gated cardiac computed tomographic angiography on 38 patients who underwent off-pump CAB.


RESULTS
Of the 49 proximal anastomoses created with the Spyder, 44 (90%) remained patent at the time of study, with a mean follow-up period of 16.7 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the Spyder exoconnector to create a clampless proximal anastomosis during off-pump CAB surgery is a reasonable strategy to improve graft patency.
Schussler
Jeffrey M
JM
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
White
Cory H
CH
Fontes
Michael A
MA
Master
Stewart A
SA
Hamman
Baron L
BL
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency