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[Internal mammary artery grafting to the circumflex coronary artery]

The in-situ left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was anastomosed to the circumflex coronary artery (Cx) in 20 patients. The right internal mammary artery, the saphenous vein and the right gastroepiploic artery were also utilized to bypass the other coronary arteries. Sequential LIMA grafting to the diagonal branch and CX was performed in 2 patients. The sites of LIMA anastomosis were 15 obtuse marginal branches and 5 posterior lateral branches. All LIMA-Cx anastomoses were performed with single 8-0 polypropylene continuous suture technique. Mean number of distal anastomosis was 3.1 ranged from 2 to 4. Mean aortic cross clamp time was 68.5 minutes ranged from 42 to 87 minutes, and mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 116.6 minutes ranged from 73 to 167 minutes. One patient died of renal failure at 22nd postoperative day, and the other patients were alive with relief of angina. New Q wave was noted in 1 patient. Postoperative angiogram at mean 2.0 months showed 100% patency of LIMA in restudied 12 patients. We concluded that the in-situ LIMA grafting to Cx system can be done with acceptably low mortality and excellent patency rate, and its utilization is particularly desirable in younger patients.

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