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The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 54, 1228-1228, Copyright © 1992 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Inverted Y incision for accurate tailoring of patches and vessels

DM Hoffman and RW Frater
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

When anastomosing vessels or using a patch to close a defect, it is often difficult to trim the vessel end or patch to size once the anastomosis is underway. We describe an inverted Y technique that is easy, is completely reproducible, and provides for an even, accurate fit. A continuous suture is run from the heel along either side to the widest part of the anastomosis. A straight incision is made from the tip of the patch or toe of the vessel to a point corresponding to the apex of the defect to be filled; from this point, approximately curved cuts are made to the edges of the patch or vessel just beyond the last sutures. The patch is now accurately shaped and the suture lines are completed.