Arterial T-graft in coronary surgery: comparison of selective coronary angiography and multi-slice computed...

The main aim of our study was to compare the results and value of angiography and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) after coronary artery bypass grafting using complex arterial conduit combinations.

Twenty-six patients underwent coronary surgery. In all patients, we utilized a T-graft (free arterial graft centrally implanted into the left internal thoracic artery IN SITU). Postoperative coronary angiography and MSCT were carried out prior to discharge. The results were interpreted separately by two different investigators.

One hundred and thirteen distal anastomoses using 59 grafts for T-graft combinations were performed in 26 patients. A mean of 3.5 peripheral anastomoses was established per patient. Angiography showed a bypass graft patency rate of 94.6 % (56/59). In angiography, the patency rate of anastomoses was 96.5 % (109/113). All occlusions were identified in sequential anastomoses. The bypass patency rate measured by MSCT was 100 % and the patency rate of anastomoses 100 %. Based on these results, MSCT showed a sensitivity of 98.9 %. The specificity was 50.8 %, the positive predictive value was 94.6 % and the negative predictive value had a level of 99.9 %.

MSCT is a simple, less invasive and useful method of monitoring results after coronary surgery including anastomosis and graft patency after complex arterial grafts. Its value may be restricted for sequential anastomoses and angiography should be preferentially used in these cases.