[Midterm result of free arterial graft for myocardial revascularization]

Free arterial grafts has been used as grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) since April 1993 in our unit and midterm patency was confirmed by coronary angiogram in 32 patients. Of 32 free arterial grafts. 23 right internal thoracic artery grafts (RITAG), 7 gastroepiploic artery grafts (GEAG) and 2 left internal thoracic artery grafts (LITAG) were placed to 38 coronary arteries including 6 grafts for sequential bypass. 20 grafts were placed in the left circumflex artery. 11 to the diagonal branch, 5 to the left anterior descending artery and 3 to the right Free arterial grafts has been used as grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) since April 1993 in our unit and midterm patency was confirmed by coronary angiogram in 32 patients. Of 32 free arterial grafts. 23 right internal thoracic artery grafts (RITAG), 7 gastroepiploic artery grafts (GEAG) and 2 left internal thoracic artery grafts (LITAG) were placed to 38 coronary arteries including 6 grafts for sequential bypass. 20 grafts were placed in the left circumflex artery. 11 to the diagonal branch, 5 to the left anterior descending artery and 3 to the right coronary artery. Coronary angiography later than 6 months after operation revealed the patency rate of 100% for LITAG and RITAG and 81.8% for GEAG. In total 36 free arterial graft remained patent and patency rate was 94.7% and the result was comparative to the midterm patency of in situ arterial graft in our series. Free arterial grafts can be expected to offer excellent long term patency and expand the indication of arterial grafts to CABG.