Abstract
Background Saphenous vein conduits are still used in a large proportion of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations. A recently commercialized nitinol mesh seems to improve venous graft patency. The aim of this study was to control nitinol mesh vein graft patency in a series of isolated CABG patients by computed tomographic (CT) scan.
Methods In 25 patients (mean age: 61.0 ± 9.65 years), operated for isolated CABG, the eSVS nitinol mesh (Kips Bay Medical Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States) was used to wrap one vein graft in each patient. Nitinol mesh vein graft was used to revascularize the right coronary (4 patients; 16%), the posterior descending (18 patients; 72%), and the obtuse marginal (3 patients; 12%) arteries. CT scans were performed at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.
Results The procedure was uneventful in all patients. CT controls showed an overall patency rate of 86.9, 42.7, and 34.1% at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. The 4 mm mesh had a significantly higher patency rate at 12 months (83.33%) than the 3.5 mm one which showed quite unsatisfactory results (20%) (p = 0.02). Patients with graft occlusion underwent stress testing which was mildly positive in two cases. One of them underwent a percutaneous revascularization.
Conclusion Despite promising early results, use of nitinol mesh for saphenous veins was disappointing in our experience. Further refinements are probably needed.
Keywords
coronary artery bypass grafts surgery - computed tomography - inflammation - systemic
