WAUWATOSA, WI – December 4, 2006 – A team of Wisconsin Heart Hospital surgeons led by nationally-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Husam H. Balkhy, M.D. were the first in the United States to use the latest-generation, fully-automated device to attach a blood vessel graft during coronary artery bypass surgery. 

“We continuously strive to improve patient outcomes using the safest, most technically-advanced and effective devices and procedures like the C-Port system,” said Husam H. Balkhy M.D., Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Wisconsin Heart Hospital.  “Using the C-Port xA system, we can quickly and reliably attach blood vessel grafts during bypass surgery, which translates into less operating time and increased likelihood that the vessel will stay open over a significant period of time.  Importantly, we believe this device will help to enable less invasive bypass surgery in the future.”

 Coronary artery bypass surgery is performed to restore blood flow through the vessels which supply blood to the heart.  The surgery is performed by taking a small part of a blood vessel from another part of the body, usually a vein from the leg, and surgically attaching it across an area of severe narrowing or blockage, thus bypassing the blockage.  The blood is rerouted through the healthy vessel and blood flow is restored to the heart muscle. 

The C-Port system, developed by Cardica, Inc., attaches the end of a bypass vessel graft to a coronary artery.  This attachment, called an anastomosis, is often considered the most critical step of bypass surgery.  The average bypass surgery requires three grafts.  The current method of performing an anastomosis takes approximately ten to 15 minutes per anastomosis and uses technically demanding, tedious and time-consuming hand sewn sutures to connect a blood vessel to the aorta and to small diameter coronary vessels.  With the C-Port xA system, the anastomosis is complete typically in less than two minutes and requires no additional hand-sewn sutures for the anastomosis. This revolutionary device received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late November 2006 and is approved for use in Europe.

About The Wisconsin Heart Hospital
Located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Heart Hospital, an affiliate of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, was the vision of a group of cardiac, vascular and specialty physicians who wanted to treat broad-based diseases that affect cardiac and vascular systems.  They began with a unique premise – they wanted to help shape the future of cardiovascular care through locating innovative workflow, patient care, diagnostics and imaging technologies under one roof.

The only cardiovascular specialty hospital and accredited chest pain center in the Milwaukee area, the 60-bed hospital was designed for the complexities of heart and vascular care. Its services include diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization and peripheral vascular procedures, electrophysiology, surgical services, diagnostic imaging, emergency department and wellness and preventive medicine programs.

As a result of its focus on patient service, TWHH has earned five national awards for patient perception of quality and service, and the top honor in the nation for inpatient cardiology/telemetry two years in a row.