A simple method for proximal anastomoses marking during CABG for future coronary angiography

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Evaluating aortic proximal anastomoses after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) presents challenges for interventional cardiologists during angiography.
• Accurate visualization of these anastomoses is crucial for assessing graft patency and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simple, safe, and fast technique for marking aortic proximal anastomoses using hemostatic clips.
• To improve the visualization of these critical surgical sites during follow-up angiography.

Main Methods:

• A technique involving the application of medium-sized hemoclips to aortic proximal anastomoses was developed.
• The effectiveness of these hemoclips as radiopaque markers was evaluated during fluoroscopy.

Main Results:

• Successful visualization of the graft markers (hemoclips) was consistently achieved during fluoroscopy.
• The technique proved to be straightforward and did not require additional surgical training for implementation.

Conclusions:

• Hemostatic clips provide a simple, safe, and effective method for marking aortic proximal anastomoses in patients undergoing CABG.
• This technique enhances visualization during angiography, offering a valuable tool for interventional cardiologists in patient follow-up.