Angiographic confirmation of graft patency after coronary artery bypass graft surgery using interrupted nitinol clips

Baron L. Hamman, MD, and Cory H. White

The development of individual nitinol metal clips (U-CLIPs, Coalescent Surgical, Inc, Sunnyvale, Calif) that retain their memory when at body temperature has allowed surgeons to easily create an interrupted anastomosis between veins and arteries or between other hollow organs. The interrupted anastomosis necessarily precludes the "purse-string" effect that hand-sewn anastomoses can incur. Some researchers have shown increased compliance with the U-CLIP interrupted anastomosis. The clips are small, versatile, reliable, and easily applied in the open technique or by using robotics. In the following case report, the efficacy of U-CLIPs in coronary artery bypass graft surgery is demonstrated by postoperative angiography.