Clinical outcomes of automated anastomotic devices: A metanalysis

Abstract

Background and AimsWe investigated neurological events, graft patency, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and mortality at 1 year following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery using automated proximal anastomotic devices (APADs) and compared the overall rates with the current literature.MethodsA systematic review of all available reports of APADs use in the literature was conducted. Cumulative incidence and 95% confidence interval (CI) were the main statistical indexes. Nine observational studies encompassing a total of 718 patients were included at the end of the selection process.ResultsThe cumulative event rate of neurological complications was 4.8% (lower‐upper limits: 2.8‐8.0, P < .001; I2 = 72.907%, P = .002; Egger's test: intercept = –2.47, P = 0.16; Begg and Mazumdar test: τ = −0.20, p = 0.57). Graft patency was 90.5% (80.4 to 95.7, P < .001; I2 = 76.823%, P = .005; Egger's test: intercept = –3.04, P = .10; Begg and Mazumdar test: τ = −0.67, P = .17). Furthermore, the overall incidence of MACEs was 3.7% (1.3‐10.4, P < .001; I2 = 51.556%, P = .103; Egger's test: intercept = –1.98, P = < .11; Begg and Mazumdar test: τ = −0.67, P = .17). Finally, mortality within 1 year was 5% (3.5‐7, P < .001; I2 = 29.675%, P = .202; Egger's test: intercept = –0.91, P = .62; Begg and Mazumdar test: τ = −0.04, P = .88).ConclusionsAPADs do not seem to be correlated with a reduction of either neurological events or mortality. By contrast, these tools showed satisfactory one‐year graft patency and a low incidence of MACEs. Further research on this topic is warranted.