64-slice computed tomography of bovine internal mammary artery coronary grafts

In cases where conventional aortocoronary grafts cannot be used, No-React bovine internal mammary artery is a possible alternative. The aim of this study was to assess the patency and clinical performance of bovine internal mammary artery as a coronary bypass conduit, using 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography. Eleven patients (mean age, 68.2 + or - 5.9 years) received 11 bovine grafts between 2002 and 2006. Eight of these patients were alive after a mean follow-up of 29.4 + or - 16.3 months. Their mean additive EuroSCORE was 6.5 + or - 3.2. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 2.5 + or - 0.5. Six grafts were anastomosed to the right coronary artery, 2 to the left anterior descending artery, and 3 to the circumflex artery. All 11 bovine grafts were found to be occluded after 14.1 + or - 3.6 months. This demonstrates very poor results with the bovine coronary graft, thus we do not recommend its use, and we suggest considering an hybrid approach in selected cases.