Transaortic Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Catheter Insertion through a Separate Saphenous Vein Graft in Patients with Severe Aortoiliac Disease
Figure 2
IABP removal and ligation of the graft. (a) The upper sternotomy incision is opened, the securing silk ligature is divided, and IABP catheter is gently removed. (b) A vascular clamp is applied to the graft. The vein graft is ligated at its base close to the sternum and the rest of the graft excised. (c) The graft stump is harbored into the subcutaneous tissue. Skin and the subcutaneous tissue are closed with interrupted sutures.
