Beneficial Impact of Aorto-coronary Graft Markers on Post-operative Angiography

Objective: When coronary and graft angiography is required for patients with prior coronary artery bypass (CAB) graft surgery, it is often difficult to localize the proximal aorto-coronary graft anastamosis. Our goal was to quantify the potential benefit during subsequent angiography if the proximal anastamosis is marked by an aorto-coronary graft marker at the time of CAB.

Methods: Retrospective review of 414 angiograms that were performed for patients with prior CAB. Cohorts with an without graft markers were compared.

Results: In the group with aorto-coronary graft markers and > or = 2 aorto-coronary grafts, there were significant reductions in fluoroscopy time (30.5%, p < 0.0001), contrast volume (21.7%, p < 0.0001), and numbers of angiographic catheters used (17.0%, p = 0.0001). If only one aorto-coronary graft was placed and marked, a trend toward reduced fluoroscopy time was observed (23.8%, p = 0.07).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the objective benefit supporting routine placement of circumferential aorto-coronary graft markers during CAB, particularly if > 1 graft is required.