Comparative study on transit-time flow measurement of graft conduits with 7-0 or 8-0 prolene suture applied for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

  AIM  To compare the transit-time flow measurement results of graft conduits with 7-0 prolene suture and 8-0 prolene suture in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).

  METHODS  OPCABG cases completed by a single surgeon in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery in Xijing Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. 7-0 prolene suture was used for distal graft conduit anastomosis from July 2019 to June 2020 and 8-0 prolene suture was used for distal graft conduit anastomosis from July 2020 to June 2021. 421 anastomoses were included in the 7-0 Prolene suture group and 397 anastomoses were included in the 8-0 Prolene suture group. Transit-time flow measurement indexes of graft conduits, including mean blood flow (MFV), pulsatility index (PI) and diastolic filling percentage (DF%), were compared between the use of 7-0 prolene suture and 8-0 prolene suture.

  RESULTS  Compared with 7-0 Prolene suture group (n=421), MFV (ml/min) of graft vessels in 8-0 Prolene suture group increased significantly (36±13 vs. 46±16, P<0.05）, and PI decreased significantly (2.7±0.65 vs. 2.2±0.5, P<0.05）; In subgroup analysis with different target vessels, there was no significant difference in PL or PDA between the two groups. In lad, the value of 8-0 Prolene suture group (increased) was better than that of 7-0 Prolene suture group (P<0.01). In the other six subgroups, the MFV and PI of 8-0 Prolene suture group were better than that of 7-0 Prolene suture group (all P<0.05). Using different graft vascular materials for subgroup analysis, the MFV of 8-0 Prolene suture group was better than that of 7-0 Prolene suture group (all P<0.05), and the ima or RA (P<0.01) and SVG (P<0.05) of PI were better than that of 7-0 Prolene suture group. There was no significant difference in DF (%) between the two groups (71±7 vs. 72±12).

  CONCLUSION  The use of 8-0 prolene sutures in distal anastomosis of OPCABG resulted in better anastomotic quality. 8-0 prolene suture should be used to improve the quality of anastomosis if the patient’s vascular conditions and the surgeon’s technical competence allow.