[Autoarterial grafts for myocardial revascularization and their morphological assesment in coronary heart disease]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Cardiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Myocardial revascularization relies on suitable arterial grafts.
• Understanding graft morphology and disease susceptibility is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the morphology and atherosclerotic profiles of three arterial grafts: thoracic internal artery, right gastro-epiploic artery, and inferior epigastric artery.
• To evaluate their suitability for myocardial revascularization.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of arterial grafts in cadavers.
• Morphological assessment and evaluation of atherosclerotic process.
• Testing of 55 thoracic internal arteries, 52 right gastro-epiploic arteries, and 34 inferior epigastric arteries.

Main Results:

• Thoracic internal artery is elastic-type; gastro-epiploic and inferior epigastric arteries are muscle-type.
• Thoracic internal and inferior epigastric arteries showed rare atherosclerosis under 60.
• Gastro-epiploic artery had more non-stenotic lesions; older individuals (>60) showed more stenotic lesions in thoracic internal and inferior epigastric arteries.

Conclusions:

• Thoracic internal and inferior epigastric arteries are less affected by atherosclerosis, especially in younger individuals.
• Gastro-epiploic artery shows higher prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions.
• Arteriography is essential for selecting the most appropriate arterial graft for myocardial revascularization.