title: Intraoperative coronary grafts flow measurement using the TTFM flowmeter: results from a domestic sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate intraoperative graft patency and identify grafts under risk of early occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty four patients were submitted to coronary artery bypass surgery and the graft flow was assessed by the Flowmeter (Medtronic Medistim), which utilizes the TTFM method. Three patients had left main disease and 48 had normal or mildly reduced left ventricular function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In hospital mortality was 3.7% (two patients), one for mesenteric thrombosis and one due to cardiogenic chock. Seventeen patients (34%) were submitted to off pump CABG. Arterial Graft flow measures ranged from 8 to 106 ml/min (average 31.14 ml/min), and venous grafts flow ranged from 9 to 149 ml/min (average 50.42 ml/min).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flowmeter use represents higher safety both for patients and surgeons. Even under legal aspects, the documentation provided by the device can avoid future questionings.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Bandeirantes, Unifesp, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Ernesto
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Succi
authors.forename: Luis Roberto
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Gerola
authors.forename: Guilherme de Menezes
authors.initials: Gde M
authors.lastname: Succi
authors.forename: Hyong Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jorge Edwin Morocho
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Paredes
authors.forename: Enio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bufollo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D045268:Flowmeters; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000502:physiology*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome