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[Myocardial revascularization with bovine internal thoracic artery graft (BIOFLOW): a case report]
K Ihashi1, H Nakano, T Sakamoto
1Department of Surgery, Fukuyama Cardiovascular Hospital, Japan.
Insights
Bovine internal thoracic artery graft (BIOFLOW) offers a viable option for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) when traditional grafts are unavailable. This study demonstrates its successful use in a patient requiring re-CABG.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Vascular Grafting
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common treatment for severe coronary artery disease.
- Graft availability can be a challenge, especially in patients requiring repeat procedures.
- Alternative conduits are needed when standard options like saphenous vein, internal thoracic artery, and gastroepiploic artery are not suitable.
Abstract:
Bovine internal thoracic artery graft (BIOFLOW) was used for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A 64-year-old woman who had undergone triple CABG with saphenous vein five years ago was referred to our hospital again with anginal attack. Coronary angiogram showed the obstruction of the graft for LAD and new stenosis at right coronary artery (RCA). Gastroepiploic artery was not available because the patient had a history of gastric ulcer several times, and saphenous vein had harvested initial operation. We planned re-CABG for LAD with left internal thoracic artery and RCA with BIOFLOW. But at the operation, LAD was not graftable because of severe calcification. So that we performed single CABG to RCA with BIOFLOW. The BIOFLOW was patent at the 28 th postoperative day. From our experience, BIOFLOW can be expected as a graft for CABG when saphenous vein, internal thoracic artery and gastroepiploic artery are not available.