Technique of harvesting an internal thoracic artery densely adherent to the periosteum

The internal thoracic artery (ITA) has been universally accepted as a superior conduit for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operations. The harvesting of the ITA is a routine procedure. Rarely, one encounters an ITA densely adherent to the overlying periosteum. We describe a technique of safely harvesting such an ITA using an orthopedic chisel. It is harvested along with a thin bone-flap and periosteum, giving a patent and uninjured ITA.