Anastomotic devices for coronary artery bypass grafting

Sutureless versus Hand-Sewn Coronary Anastomoses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Sutureless coronary anastomotic devices are intended to facilitate minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS-CABG) by easing and eventually standardizing the anastomotic technique. Within this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim to determine patency and to evaluate safety outcomes for the sutureless anastomoses.

METHODS

CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched from database start till August 2021 in a predefined search strategy combining the key concepts: 'coronary artery bypass grafting', 'sutureless coronary anastomoses', and 'hand-sewn coronary anastomoses' by the Boolean operation 'AND'. Study characteristics, patient demographics, interventional details, and all available outcome data were extracted. A meta-analysis was performed on patency at longest follow-up. Safety outcomes were presented.

RESULTS

A total of eleven trials towards six sutureless anastomotic devices were included, comprising 3724 patients (490 sutureless and 3234 hand-sewn). There was no significant difference in patency at a mean follow-up duration of 546.3 (range 1.5-2691) days, with a risk ratio of 0.77 (95% CI 0.55-1.06). MACE was reported in 4.5% sutureless and 3.9% hand-sewn patients, including all-cause mortality (resp. 1.3 vs. 1.9%), myocardial infarction (resp. 1.6 vs. 1.7%), and coronary revascularization (resp. 1.8 vs. 0.5%). Incomplete hemostasis occurred in 24.8% of the sutureless anastomoses. Intra-operative device failure forced conversion to hand-sewn or redo-anastomosis in 5.8% of the sutureless cases.

CONCLUSION

Based on the systematic review and meta-analysis including six devices, we conclude that sutureless coronary anastomotic devices appear safe and effective when used by well-trained and dedicated surgical teams.

Minimally Invasive Coronary Revascularisation Surgery: A Focused Review of the Available Literature

Minimally invasive coronary revascularisation was originally developed in the mid 1990s as minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) grafting is a less invasive approach compared to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to address targets in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Since then, MIDCAB has evolved with the adoption of a robotic platform and the possibility to perform multivessel bypass procedures. Minimally invasive coronary revascularisation surgery also allows for a combination between the benefits of CABG and percutaneous coronary interventions for non-LAD lesions – a hybrid approach. Hybrid coronary revascularisation results in fewer blood transfusions, shorter hospital stay, decreased ventilation times and patients return to work sooner when compared to conventional CABG. This article reviews the available literature, describes standard approaches and considers topics, such as limited access procedures, indications and patient selection, diagnostics and imaging, techniques, anastomotic devices, hybrid coronary revascularisation and outcome analysis.

Prospective Evaluation of Patency and Early Experience Utilizing an Automated Distal Anastomosis Device (C-Port)

Background

In November 2005, a new automated distal anastomotic device (C-Port) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was cleared by the FDA for use in the United States. This study represents a prospective evaluation of our early experience using the device with graft patency assessment determined by 64 slice multidetector row computed tomography angiography (64CT).

Materials and Methods

Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass were evaluated preoperatively by cine angiography for possible use of the C-Port system. A final decision for its use was made clinically at operation based on target vessel and vein graft specifications. Patency of the grafts was evaluated at 1 to 7 months (average 91 days) by 64CT with IRB approval and signed informed consent.

Results

The C-Port device was used to form 69 distal anastomoses in 50 patients (46 CABG were performed off pump). There were eight misfires with no adverse effects for an immediate success rate of 88.4%. Thirty-five of 41 patients were available postoperatively for evaluation by 64CT (85.4% follow-up). There was one postoperative death. Seventeen sequential anastomoses were excluded because of inability to reliably evaluate patency by 64CT. Four 64CT scans were uninterpretable. For the remaining 31 patients, 64CT scans were used to evaluate for graft patency. The overall patency rate for all anastomoses was 94.5% (86/91) with selected patency for internal mammary artery of 100% (28/28), for C-Port connectors of 93.3% (42/45), and for hand-sewn venous end-to-side anastomosis of 88.9% (16/18). The difference in patency between C-Port anastomoses and hand sewn was not statistically significant (P = 0.62).

Conclusions

The C-Port system provides reliable and reproducible compliant automated distal venous anastomoses, which results in acceptable patency at intermediate follow-up. With proper training, the learning curve for using this connector system is relatively short and the need to abandon the procedure is low. 64CT is an excellent noninvasive method for cardiac surgeons and their institutions to accurately evaluate their actual surgical results.

Coronary artery bypass grafting: Part 1--the evolution over the first 50 years

Surgical treatment for angina pectoris was first proposed in 1899. Decades of experimental surgery for coronary artery disease finally led to the introduction of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 1964. Now that we are approaching 50 years of CABG experience, it is appropriate to summarize the advancement of CABG into a procedure that is safe and efficient. This review provides a historical recapitulation of experimental surgery, the evolution of the surgical techniques and the utilization of CABG. Furthermore, data on contemporary clinical outcomes are discussed.

Early Patency Evaluation of New Distal Anastomotic Device in Internal Mammary Artery Grafts Using Computed Tomography Angiography

Introduction

Traditional coronary artery bypass grafting is performed using a hand sewn technique. The C-Port xA and Flex A anastomotic stapling devices (Cardica Inc., Redwood City, CA) were cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for use in distal coronary anastomoses in November 2006 and April 2007, respectively. They provide the ability to create a compliant, consistently reproducible, and automated anastomosis. Multidetector computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be effective in evaluating coronary artery bypass graft patency.

Methods

The first 24 patients to undergo internal mammary artery (IMA) anastomosis using the automated device in our practice were included in the study. Twenty-five IMA grafts (24 left IMA and 1 right IMA) were created using the C-Port xA or Flex A anastomotic device as part of multivessel off-pump coronary revascularization by sternotomy. Graft patency was evaluated at 30 days in the first 10 grafts and at 90 days in the next 15 grafts using multidetector (64 slice) CT.

Results

There were no device failures. There were no perioperative strokes, myocardial infarctions, or deaths. All 10 IMA grafts evaluated at 30 days were patent using multidetector CT. One of the 15 IMA grafts studied at 90 days was occluded using multidetector computed tomography.

Conclusions

The C-Port xA and Flex A distal anastomotic devices provided a safe and effective means to create a left IMA-left anterior descending artery anastomoses in coronary bypass surgery with excellent short to midterm patency in this early experience. Long-term follow-up is warranted. These findings will have important implications for future sternal sparing coronary bypass surgery.

Catheter-based endoscopic bypass grafting: an experimental feasibility study

PURPOSE

Construction of an endoscopic catheter-guided, bonded anastomosis to facilitate total endoscopic coronary artery bypass.

DESCRIPTION

Total endoscopic coronary artery bypass of the left internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed on the beating heart in six pigs using a telemanipulation system. An angioplasty catheter was advanced through the left internal thoracic artery to stabilize the anastomotic site. The anastomosis was created by applying glue externally to the surrounding tissue of the left internal thoracic artery and the left anterior descending coronary artery while it was kept open by an inflated angioplasty catheter.

EVALUATION

Angiography and catheter placement at the graft site was performed in 12 minutes (10 to 28 minutes). The anastomotic constructions were easily accomplished in 3.5 minutes (2 to 4.5 minutes). The adverse events that were encountered were anastomotic leakage requiring additional glue and left anterior descending artery dissection due to the guidewire. All except one animal with an open graft and anastomosis survived the procedure. Patency was 5 of 6.

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter-based endoscopic bypass grafting is feasible. The combination of robotic technology and this simple technique for anastomotic construction may facilitate beating heart total endoscopic coronary artery bypass.