Background : Implantation of a radioopaque graft marker around the proximal saphenous vein-aorta anastomosis has beneficial clinical and economic effects at postoperative re-angiography. It is usually the surgeon who performs the operation that has to decide whether or not to use this technique. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of aorto-coronary graft marker usage and to obtain national data about the factors influencing its usage.

Methods : A questionnaire consisting four questions was used in this study. Copies of the questionnarie were posted to 150 cardiac surgeons who perform open heart surgery in Turkey.

Results : The questionnaire responding rate was 50% (75 surgeons). Sixty six percent of the surgeons said that they did not use graft markers in their patients. The most frequent reasons for this desicion were: re-angiography is performed in the same institution (38%), graft markers increase the operation costs (18%), re-angiography requirement is low (14%). The percentage of the surgeons who use graft markers was 33%. The most common reasons behind the usage of graft markers were to decrease catheter manuplation in the aorta at reangiography (68%) and to decrease the cost of re-angiography (42%). The mostly used type of graft markers were hemostatic clips (52%) and specially designed commercial markers (44%). Seventy six percent of the surgeons who use the graft markers apply the graft markers to all proximal anastomosis. The rest of them use graft markers only for selected patients. No surgeon responding the questionnaire mentioned a complication that may have to do with graft markers.

Conclusion : In conclusion, most of the responders do not apply graft markers at the time of the surgery. The aorto-coronary graft markers have beneficial properties at re-angiography for patients, angiography teams, surgeons and the national economy. The proper strategy for the usage of graft markers must be determined with the collaboration of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology teams.

Keywords : Coronary bypass, graft marker, angiography, questionnaire