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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

Chronic Ovine Model of Right Ventricular Failure and Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation
Published on: March 17, 2023
Free right internal thoracic artery in a "horseshoe" configuration: a new technical approach for "in situ" conduit
Jacob Zeitani1, Alfonso Penta de Peppo, Antonio Scafuri
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. zeitani@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with large lung volumes may prevent both the "in situ" internal thoracic arteries to reach coronary anastomoses sites. We present a method to revascularize the left antero-lateral myocardial wall using the right internal thoracic artery as a "free graft" anastomosed side to end to the "in situ" left internal thoracic artery, in a "horseshoe" fashion. The two ends of the "free graft" were anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery and the second obtuse marginal branch, respectively. This method was successfully used in a 74-year-old patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

