CORONARY-ARTERY ANASTOMOTIC CONTOUR - A METHOD FOR INDIVIDUAL SURGEONS TO ASSESS THEIR SUTURE TECHNIQUES

A method is described whereby individual surgeons may monitor their co ronary graft suturing techniques. The coronary artery anastomotic cont our is measured quantitatively in corrosion resin cast models made of anastomoses between long saphenous vein and the left anterior descendi ng coronary artery of a pig's heart. The relevant parameter assessing the contour is the mean anastomotic narrowing expressed as a percent ( MAN%). To provide an example of the potential of the method, a single surgeon compared a continuous suture technique (n = 30) with an interr upted one (n = 30) using corrosion resin models. There was significant ly less (P < 0.05) narrowing of the anastomotic contour with the inter rupted technique (mean MAN% = 0.3 +/- 2.9) than with the continuous (m ean MAN% = 10.5 +/- 3).