The free internal mammary artery bypass graft. Use of the IMA in the aorta-to-coronary artery position

Transposition of the internal mammary artery (IMA) into the aorta-to-coronary artery position is described, and 4 patients who underwent this operation are reported. Currently, this type of bypass graft is reserved for those patients who have unsuitable or stripped saphenous veins. The free IMA grafts can be connected to any of the major coronary vessels, and in most instances optical assistance is not necessary. There was no significant difference in recorded blood flow between these free grafts and a large group of in situ IMA-to-coronary artery bypass grafts.