Nonpenetrating clips for coronary anastomosis

Background. A nonsuture clip technique (nonpenetrating titanium clips applied to everted tissue edges at high compressive forces) was used to perform coronary anastomoses in a clinical setting. Methods. Clipped coronary anastomoses were performed in 10 patients. The anastomoses incorporated the left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery (n = 1) and the saphenous vein to the right coronary artery (n = 5), the posterior descending artery (n = 2), the diagonal artery (n = 2), and one vein-to-vein proximal anastomosis (n = 1). Results. The mean duration for completion of the anastomoses was 15 minutes (range, 7 to 20 minutes). This time was reduced from 20 minutes at the beginning of the clinical experience to 7 minutes for the last 3 patients. No technical complication was related to clip application and all patients had uneventful outcomes. Three anastomoses studied by coronary angiography were patent without stenosis. Conclusion. The clipped anastomotic technique has a rapid learning curve, the same safety as suture methods, and the potential for facilitating endoscopic vascular reconstructions. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.