The purpose of the present study was to analyze the histological aspects of the saphenous veins after the use of the Symmetry aortic connector in off pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). Nineteen consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB surgery and who received one proximal saphenous vein anastomosis using the St Jude aortic Symmetry connector system were evaluated. In each patient one small segment of the saphenous vein was cut before the use of the Symmetry connector (V0), then another segment after (V1). All segments were stored in an acetone-formaldehyde-alcohol solution before examination. Examination of the V0 segments showed non-specific media fibrosis. In V1, 11 segments presented with a complete alteration of the endothelial layer (58%) and 8 with severe lesions (more than 80%). Among all the V1 segments, 8 had a dissection of the media (42%) and one presented with a wall thrombus. These results suggest that the use of the aortic connector can be associated with different types of lesions of the venous wall. Thus, further investigation and especially long-term follow-up are mandatory to evaluate the consequences of such lesions upon the grafts' patency.

BackgroundAortic valve decalcification by ultrasound was given up. We evaluated a new ultrasound microhandpiece (Dissectron Penstyle®) to rehabilitate this alternative treatment.MethodsWe used under magnifying lenses the ultrasound microhandpiece to decalcify 30 explanted aortic valves. In the cases with embedded calcifications the thin top of the probe could be introduced into the thickness of the leaflet preserving covering layers.ResultsThe leaflets were totally decalcified and flexible, and surrounding structures were preserved as assessed by histological examination.ConclusionThis new approach of ultrasonic aortic valve decalcification gives good in vitro results which allow to consider a clinical evaluation of this procedure.