[Exposure for harvesting internal mammary artery grafts]

Inflated lungs often disturb the harvesting of internal mammary artery grafts. We employ a Universal Stabilizer Arm and Aortic Valve Assistant (Estech Corporation, Danville) to push the mediastinal pleura and the lung away from the upper part of the mediastinum. This system can be attached to any type of retractor and has excellent flexibility. Its use provides good exposure for harvesting the internal mammary artery.