Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft creation in upper extremities abandoned due to stent obstruction via recanalization and HeRO outflow component insertion across stent interstices

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and outcomes of recanalization and subsequent HeRO graft outflow component insertion across stent interstices in patients with an otherwise abandoned upper extremity. Methods: Over a 10-year period, 15 patients underwent central venous recanalization by interventional radiology across the interstices of one or more occluded stents for the purpose of subsequent HeRO graft creation. A tunneled central venous catheter was left across the stent and occlusions with tip in right atrium. On a later date, the catheter was used for rapid guidewire access for HeRO graft implantation in the OR by vascular surgery. Procedural and clinical outcomes were determined by retrospective review. Primary and secondary HeRO graft patency rates were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier technique. Results: The technical success rates of recanalization across stent interstices was 100% (15/15). Between one and four overlapping stent walls were traversed. The technical success of the patients who underwent attempted HeRO graft implantation with outflow component traversing across stent interstices was 91% (11/12). No major complications were encountered with either recanalization or HeRO graft implantation. The primary and secondary HeRO patency rates at 12 months were 64% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion: HeRO graft insertion across stent interstices is feasible and can provide effective permanent AV access; thus, the presence of stents across the subclavian and brachiocephalic veins should not be considered a contraindication.

Intraoperative Assessment of Coronary Resistances: A New Quality Marker and Potential Tool to Predict Early Graft Failure after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?

Intraoperative assessment of graft patency is pivotal for successful coronary revascularization. In the present study we aimed to propose a new, easy to perform tool to assess anastomotic quality intraoperatively, and to investigate its potential reliability in predicting early graft failure. Intraoperative graft flowmetry of 63 consecutive patients undergoing CABG were prospectively collected. Transit time flowmetry and its derivatives were recorded. Coronary resistances were calculated according to Hagen–Poiseuille equation both during cardioplegic arrest and after withdrawal from cardiopulmonary bypass. Angiographic evidence of graft occlusion at follow-up was cross-checked with intraoperative recordings. After a mean follow-up of 10.4 ± 6.0 months, 22 grafts were studied, and occlusion was documented in five (22.7%). Occluded grafts showed lower flows and higher resistances recorded during aortic cross-clamping. Coronary resistances, recorded during aortic cross-clamping, greater than 2.0 mmHg/mL/min, showed a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 100% to predict graft failure. We propose the routine recording of coronary resistances during aortic cross-clamping as an additional tool to overcome the acknowledged limitation of TTF to predict graft occlusion at 1 year.

Transit time flow measurement predicts graft patency in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting upon 5-year angiographic follow-up

Objective This retrospective study sought to evaluate the efficacy of transit time flow measurement (TTFM) as a means of predicting bypass graft patency as assessed by coronary artery angiography upon 5-year follow-up. Methods Of 311 patients undergone isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery from January 2014 through December 2014, 202 (65%) underwent both intraoperative TTFM and angiography at follow-up. 610 grafts, 202 left internal mammary artery grafts and 408 saphenous vein grafts were checked. Any grafts that exhibited Fitzgibbon type B or O lesions upon angiographic evaluation were considered to be failing. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify the optimal TTFM values for predicting graft patency. Results A total of 610 grafts were included in this analysis, including 202 LIMA grafts and 408 SV grafts, of which 107, 129, 129, and 43 anastomosed to DIAG, OM, PDA, and PLA, respectively. LIMA, DIAG, OM, PDA, and PLA bypass grafts had overall patency rates of 95.0%, 74.8%, 73.6%, 71.5%, and 74.4%, respectively, upon 5-year follow up. No significant differences in TTFM values (MGF, PI, and DF) were observed when comparing outcomes associated with individual or sequential SV grafting. MGF was found to be predictive of graft failure regardless of the target vessel (P < 0.05). While PI was found to predict LIMA, OM, and PDA graft failure (P < 0.05), it was not associated with the failure of grafts associated with DIAG and PLA vessels. Similarly, DF was found to predict OM and PDA graft failure (P < 0.05), but was not significantly associated with the failure of grafts associated with LIMA, DIAG, or PLA vessels. Conclusion LIMA bypass grafts were associated with better 5-year graft patency relative to SV bypass grafts. Similar graft patency rates were observed for both individual and sequential bypass grafts. MGF was able to predict bypass graft failure in patients that underwent off-pump CABG surgery.

Step-by-step harvesting of various grafts for coronary artery bypass surgery

One of the key aspects to obtain good long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting is graft quality. Meticulous graft harvesting is an important technical aspect in successfully performing high-quality coronary surgery and is associated with improved long-term graft patency. Hence, developing surgical skills in this necessary surgical step is of utmost importance in coronary bypass surgery. The following video tutorial presents a step-by-step audiovisual description of the skeletonized harvesting technique of the left internal mammary artery, open and endoscopic radial artery harvesting, and open saphenous vein graft harvesting.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting; is it Still Relevant?

: Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (OPCAB) experienced a resurgence in the 1980s -2000s and developed steadily with improvement of the instrumentation and techniques. However questions about graft patency and long-term survival of OPCAB patients still exist. This review attempts to explore the current relevance of OPCAB.

Importance of Intraoperative Detection of Graft Patency by Using Transit Time Flowmetry and Its Impact on Revascularization of the Myocardium

Background Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) has contributed to an increase in survival, quality of life and life expectancy. The anastomotic quality and graft patency is directly associated with both early and long-term clinical results after CABG. It is a complication that can lead to refractory angina, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and even mortality. Objectives This study was aiming to evaluate the effect of use of TTFM on the outcome of CABG operations and it was carried out on 100 patients and examined 282 grafts, we use inotropic agents to maintain the systolic pressure at 90- 100 mmHg if the blood pressure was lower than that limit. Patients and Methods An observational exploratory study was carried on 100 patients operated in Police authority hospitals, cardiothoracic surgery department. The study period of the study was 6 months, study population: The included population will be patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery. Results TTFM data was described as two main readings which are MF in ml/min (mean flow), PI (pulsatility index) and it was measured for the all types of the grafts. In MF it was the highest in AO-OM system (34.5 ± 18.46) followed by LIMA- LAD system (33.0 ± 19.65) then AO-Diagonal (31.0 ± 26.38) and lastly AO-RCA(29.50 ± 32.22). For the PI the lowest measurements was 0.8 and it was for both LIMA to LAD and then 1.2 for AO-OM system and 1.4 for AO-DIAG system and 1.8 for AO-RCA system. The most important finding in this study which represents the usefulness of the usage of TTFM is how much grafts needed to be revised according to the grafts measurements and it was 14 grafts in 14 patients (one grafts for each patient) among 100 patients which account for 14%. Conclusion Regarding the other studies that compare the TTEM with other ways for detection of graft patency, they prefer the TTFM due to: TTFM is easy to use, accurate and relatively inexpensive, TTFM helps prevent missed technical surgical errors in distal and proximal anastomosis, it has shown that TTFM improved outcome in many situations, TTFM provides excellent documentation of the surgical outcome and allows for better understanding of procedural complications.