Optimal target international normalized ratio for patients with mechanical heart valves.

1. Katariya K, Yassin S, Tehrani HY, Lombardi P, Masroor S, Salerno TA. Initial experience with sutureless proximal anastomoses performed with a mechanical connector leading to clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2004;77:563–7. 2. Cavendish JJ, Penny WF, Madani MM, et al. Severe ostial saphenous vein graft disease leading to acute coronary syndromes following proximal aorto-saphenous anastomoses with the symmetry bypass connector device: is it a suture device or a “stent”? J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;43:133–9. 3. Fuertes J, Lozano I, Turiel JM, Llosa JC, Suarez E, de la Tassa CM. Percutaneous intervention over the origin of a saphenous vein graft anastomosed with the St. Jude Medical Symmetry Aortic Connector System. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;61:103–6.