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Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Surgical Swine Model of Chronic Cardiac Ischemia Treated by Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Published on: March 27, 2018
Challenges associated with treatment of left internal mammary artery graft thrombosis
Iosif Xenogiannis1, Evangelia Vemmou1, Ilias Nikolakopoulos1
1Minneapolis Heart Institute, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Insights
Late acute occlusion of a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft caused a heart attack 19 years after bypass surgery. Stent implantation successfully restored blood flow, resolving the life-threatening complication.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Acute occlusion of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is a rare but serious complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- Late graft occlusion can lead to acute myocardial infarction (MI), posing a significant threat to patient survival.
Abstract:
Acute occlusion of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft late after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication. We describe a case of acute myocardial infarction 19 years after coronary artery bypass graft surgery due to acute occlusion of the distal anastomosis of a LIMA graft to the left anterior descending artery. Aspiration thrombectomy failed to remove the thrombus. Laser thrombectomy caused perforation. After drug-eluting and covered stent implantation, antegrade TIMI 3 flow was restored with an uneventful postprocedural course.
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