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Published on: November 11, 2012
Composite Y internal thoracic artery-saphenous vein grafts: short-term angiographic results and vasoreactive profile
Mario Gaudino1, Francesco Alessandrini, Claudio Pragliola
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mgaudino@tiscali.it
Background:
The angiographic patency of composite Y internal thoracic artery-saphenous vein grafts has not been investigated in detail.
Methods:
Twenty-five patients who received composite Y internal thoracic artery-saphenous vein grafts had control angiography and vasoactive challenges with serotonin, acetylcholine, and isosorbide dinitrate at a mean of 2.5 +/- 1.2 years after surgery.
Results:
The perfect patency rate of composite Y internal thoracic artery-saphenous vein grafts was 72% (18/25). The distal portion of the internal thoracic artery was stringed in 4 patients and occluded in 2. The saphenous branch of the composite Y internal thoracic artery-saphenous vein grafts was found patent in all patients except 1. No failures were reported in the proximal tract of the internal thoracic artery. The distal tract of the internal thoracic artery showed reduced capacity of endothelium-mediated relaxation.
Conclusion:
The short-term patency of composite Y internal thoracic artery-saphenous vein grafts is suboptimal and markedly influenced by distal runoff and native flow competition.
