BioGlue is not associated with polypropylene suture breakage after aortic surgery.

Objective: We have encountered broken or damaged polypropylene sutures (Prolene) at the anastomotic sites during aortic reoperations. Because a surgical sealant, bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde (BioGlue), was used in previous aortic surgery in some of these cases, we undertook this study to evaluate whether the use of BioGlue was associated with breakage of polypropylene sutures at the aortic anastomosis.

Materials And Methods: The broken polypropylene sutures, anastomotic sites and aortic tissue at the location of suture breakage were visually inspected and evaluated intraoperatively.

Opposite trends in coronary artery and valve surgery in a large multisurgeon practice, 1979-1999.

Background: Trends in coronary artery bypass (CAB) and valve operations (VO) may help predict the future of cardiac surgery in the context of changing case mix, shifting paradigms, emerging technology, and population demographics.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 30,319 adult CAB and VO in our group from 1979 to 1999 according to specific procedures.

Results: Coronary artery bypass volumes peaked in 1996 at 1,895 cases, declining 15.