Initial clinical experience with a new end graft holder for anastomosis in coronary surgery

Objective. We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel end graft holder for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and evaluated anastomotic patency and early clinical results. Methods. The end graft holder was applied to 45 consecutive patients. Operative characteristics were off-pump CABG in 22.2%, emergency in 28.9%, and concomitant cardiac surgery in 13.3%. Results. The device was used safely without graft injury or inadequate gripping on grafts. Postoperative angiography showed that the patency rate of distal anastomosis was 96.7% (arterial, 100%; venous, 94%). All proximal aortic and composite graft anastomoses were patent without stenosis. The rate of 30-day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was 13.3% (operative deaths, 3; repeated CABG, 1; percutaneous coronary arterial intervention, 1; and cerebral infarction, 1). None of the elective patients died during hospitalization. Conclusion. Our initial clinical experience demonstrated that the new end graft holder was safe, reliable, and effective during CABG. The excellent fixation and visualization of the graft with the device might be particularly beneficial for off-pump CABG or for teaching trainees.