Dimensions of potential arterial grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting in Indians--an autopsy evaluation study

Total revascularization of the heart using as many arterial grafts as possible is the trend of the day. We have chosen two commonly used arterial grafts to evaluate their efficiency in myocardial revascularization in Indian subjects. An autopsy study was conducted in 25 cases. Both internal mammary arteries with their branches and the right gastroepiploic artery were harvested. These arteries were distended with heated Gelatin, deep frozen and their diameters were measured. In 56% of subjects diameter of internal mammary artery was 1.5 to 2.0 mm (n = 14). However 36% of subjects had diameter above 2.0 mm (n = 9). Musculo-phrenic and superior epigastric arteries had 1.85 and 1.65 mm internal diameters respectively. The mean internal diameter of right gastro-epiploic artery was 2.3 mm. When these diameters were indexed to the body surface area, they were comparable with similar figures from western subjects.