[HSF] re: [HSF ] OPCAB pitfall

[Ben Bidstrup]

One of the breakfast sessions was on ITA use. There was discussion on 
the use of flow and Spy with the latter seeming to be more commonly 
used now. David Taggart also mentioned it in his Tech Con address.
Much talk about what to do with lesser stenoses, but use of ITA RA to 
a low grade stenosis was deprecated.
Of the many studies that look at patency, esp those from Brian 
Buxton's group, no one knows how many grafts were open at the 
beginning.
Rob Poston has published on this and is relating flows, coagulability 
and patency using MDCT. He has made some suggestions re antiplatelet 
therapy as did we and others some years ago.
The issues related to lesser stenoses will not be as easy to define 
and answer as any study is likely to have ethical problems.
-- 
Ben Bidstrup FRACS FRCSEd FEBCTS
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon