European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 5, 498-502, Copyright © 1991 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
New nomenclature and computerized programme of graphics for the description and recording of aortocoronary bypasses
E Irrgang, T Menzel and P Kalmar
Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, FRG.
In the process of drawing up a computerized operation reporting system, a
nomenclature for the precise description of recently fitted or existing
aortocoronary bypasses has been developed. This is based on a sequence of
letters showing in one line which type of bypass has been fitted, the graft
material used, the central anastomosis (source) as well as the peripheral
anastomoses on the coronary arteries (objective). For this purpose,
abbreviations of the customary terms in use in cardiac surgery have been
used. A computer graphics programme has been created in parallel, enabling
all bypasses (existing and/or new) to be sketched into the diagram of a
heart with the aid of a mouse. The bypass nomenclature is automatically
generated from the diagram, which can also be printed out as a sketch of
the operation. The complete diagram of the heart plus data input forms
enable the operation report to be compiled automatically. The nomenclature
and the graphics programme are easily learnt, simplify work, can readily be
incorporated into a computerized hospital organization and enhance
documentation quality.
