[Proximal anastomotic marker use in coronary artery bypass operations]

Abstract

Detection and evaluation of aorto-to-saphenous vein anastomosis sites (proximal anastomoses) in patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery are comparatively harder than native coronary orifices during follow-up re-angiography procedures. Placement of a radioopaque proximal anastomotic graft marker during coronary artery bypass procedure poses medical and economical advantages in case of postoperative re-angiography during follow-up of these patients. Indication of whether or not to use a proximal anastomotic marker is in general decide on by the operating surgeon. However, coronary angiography is a task of interventional cardiologist. Difference of the teams performing catheterization and the surgical procedure may rise some inconsistencies in terms of requirements for these markers. In order for these dilemmas to be prevented, surgical team should be informed of the complication re-angiography procedure. Proper strategy for the implantation of this technique, which is convenient not only for cardiologist and surgeon but also in economic terms, should be decided on with collaboration of cardiology and cardiovascular surgery teams. In this article, advantages of the proximal anastomotic markers during the postoperative follow-up and re-angiography have been presented with the related literature review.