An arterial and venous graft holder for coronary artery bypass grafting

Okutan H.

ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY, vol.86, no.1, pp.317-319, 2008 (Journal Indexed in SCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Editorial Material
  • Volume: 86 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.01.024
  • Title of Journal : ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
  • Page Numbers: pp.317-319

Abstract

An innovative arterial and venous graft holder has been developed for use during proximal and distal anastomosis in coronary artery bypass grafting. The device consists of a flexible arm and a handle. The handle in turn is composed of three parts: (1) a T-shaped body, (2) an atraumatic clip for holding the graft, and (3) a coronary probe attached by an adjustable fixation screw to the body. The handle can be used to easily hold the graft either by an assistant or attached to a flexible arm. The flexible arm can be used while attached to a standard sternal retractor or a railway sternal retractor. It facilitates opening the heel of the graft and stitching the most difficult angle of the anastomosis. This new instrument provides excellent exposure and a more comfortable anastomosis.