Transit Time Flow Measurements in Coronary Surgery: The Experience From a New Center in Bosnia

Abstract

Background: A new cardiovascular center in Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina was opened for cardiac procedures in September 1998. In the first three years of operation, a total of 440 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures were performed there. Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) was emphasized as the main tool for surgical revascularization. Transit time flow measurement (TTFM) was used routinely to check graft patency. The purpose of this paper is to report on flowmetry results in the Tuzla CABG population.
Methods: All patients were considered candidates for both on-pump (ONCAB) and off-pump (OPCAB) CABG procedures. Approximately 60% of the procedures were performed as ONCAB and the rest as OPCAB. For all patients, TTFM was performed on all grafts.
Results: Eighteen patients were converted from OPCAB to ONCAB. Revision was required for 1.8% of the grafts. All grafts were successfully revised and were patent at the time of wound closure.
Conclusion: We believe that TTFM is a crucial tool in CABG. It offers a reliable and inexpensive tool for quality assurance in coronary revascularization.