The Microsurgical Technique in Patch Graft Closure of Coronary Arteriotomy

¹ Research Laboratories, Good Samaritan Hospital

Observations from even this limited number of dogs indicate that the coronary artery is amenable to surgical procedures. Clinically, human subjects would already have adjusted to the occlusion of the vessel and its resulting ischemia. This would permit manipulation of the vessel without causing further ischemia as is of necessity the case in the experimental animal.

Simple closure of the arteriotomy under the operating microscope is more effective than gross closure; however, neither procedure is comparable to the patch graft technique performed with the aid of the microsurgical technique. If the present studies being conducted on the left coronary vessel show similar results, clinical application would appear indicated.