DIRECT ANASTOMOSIS OF THE SAPHENOUS-VEIN TO THE UNCLAMPED AORTA

The authors present an alternative technique for anastomosis of the pr oximal saphenous vein to the ascending aorta which allows safe and eff ective performance of the aorto-to-saphenous connection using neither aortic clamping nor circulatory arrest. This technique can be used in situations such as calcification of the aortic wall or presence of uns table atheromatous plaques which make the application of the more comm only applied method very risky or even impossible.