T grafts with the right internal thoracic artery to left internal thoracic artery versus the left internal thoracic artery and radial artery: flow dynamics in the internal thoracic artery main stem.

OBJECTIVE: Complete arterial coronary artery bypass grafting with 2 grafts can be achieved even in triple vessel disease by use of a T configuration. There is still uncertainty whether the coronary flow reserve in the main stem of the left internal thoracic artery is sufficient to supply more than 1 anastomosed coronary vessel. METHODS: Between March 1996 and February 1999, 251 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease underwent complete arterial revascularization with T grafts, using either the left internal thoracic artery with the free right internal thoracic artery graft (n = 73, group I) or the left internal thoracic artery and radial artery (n = 178, group II). A mean of 4.0 (group I) versus 4.3 (group II) coronary vessels were anastomosed per patient. One week (n = 92) and 6 months (n = 28) after the operation, flow was measured in the proximal left internal thoracic artery with a Doppler guide wire. Maximum flow was determined after injection of adenosine (30 microg). RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality was 2.7% (group I) versus 2.3% (group II). At angiography (n = 142, 56.6%) the patency rate was 96.3% (group I) versus 98.2% (group II). There was no significant difference between baseline flow, maximum flow, and coronary flow reserve between the 2 groups. Coronary flow reserve increased in both groups within the first 6 postoperative months (group I, 1.85 +/- 0.31 vs 2.77 +/- 0.77, P =.0002; group II, 1.82 +/- 0.4 vs 2.53 +/- 0.73, P =.009). CONCLUSION: Both variants of T grafts allow for complete arterial revascularization with good perioperative results. The flow reserve of the proximal internal thoracic artery is adequate for multiple coronary anastomoses irrespective of the choice of the second arterial graft.     

Spontaneous regression of an aneurysm at a nonbranching site of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery. Case report

The authors report on a patient who had presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage whose bleeding source was not revealed on initial angiography, although subsequent studies disclosed a saccular aneurysm at a nonbranching site of the left internal carotid artery (ICA). The aneurysm could have been caused spontaneously or after blunt head trauma. The patient was supportively observed given the considerable risks associated with aggressive treatments. The present case represents the first involving spontaneous complete regression of an aneurysm at a nonbranching site of the supraclinoid ICA.     

Fistulae of the internal thoracic vessels: report of two cases.

Arteriovenous fistulae involving the internal thoracic vessels are extremely rare. The multiple causes, variable clinical presentation, and inconsistent delay of onset of clinical symptoms in addition to their rarity make their diagnosis difficult. However, the complications of untreated internal thoracic fistulae are potentially fatal, emphasizing the need to make a prompt and correct diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made and the investigational workup complete, treatment consists of either surgical ligation and excision or percutaneous transcatheter embolization. We report two cases of patients with internal thoracic fistulae: one arising as a complication of a tube thoracostomy and the other following an anterior thoracotomy. The second case report describes a rupture of the internal thoracic fistulae, a complication not reported earlier.     

Interdural origin of the ophthalmic artery at the dural ring of the internal carotid artery. Report of two cases

The authors report two cases in which the ophthalmic artery (OA) originated from the interdural portion of the internal carotid artery at the carotid dural ring and coursed within the dura. This configuration was observed during surgeries performed in 82 cases of juxta-dural ring aneurysms. In surgery for such an aneurysm, if the OA is not seen intradurally, an attempt should be made to find this kind of variation by using a Doppler flowmeter before sectioning the dural ring.     

Assessment of blood flow of the internal thoracic artery in patients with aortic stenosis

The number of patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been increasing. In CABG, the internal thoracic artery (ITA) is the preferred conduit for its long-term patency. Although Doppler studies on ITA have been widely used, flow characteristics of the vessel in patients with AS have not been reported. To evaluate blood flow pattern of the ITA in AS, duplex scanning was performed in 10 patients before and after AVR. Peak systolic velocity was measured, and blood flow was calculated from mean velocity and cross-sectional area. The mean diameters of the vessels were approximately 1.8 mm on both sides. AVR caused an increase in systolic velocities from 61.2 cm/sec to 85.5 cm/sec in right ITA and from 58.4 cm/sec to 84.7 cm/sec in left ITA. The flow volumes increased from 32.2 ml/min to 46.7 ml/min in right and increased from 31.6 ml/min to 46.3 ml/min in left after AVR. In simultaneous AVR for AS and CABG, suitability of the ITA should be assessed before its use, and concomitant AVR may be quite important to provide adequate flow of the ITA as a conduit.     

Revascularization with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts in patients with left main coronary stenosis.

Left main occlusive disease (LMD) is a potentially fatal lesion which is optimally treated with surgical revascularization. Although the internal thoracic artery (ITA) is recognized as having superior long term patency, there has been concern regarding possible flow limitation. Because of this concern, there may be reluctance to use only this conduit in patients with LMD in whom high graft flows are desirable. From 1985 to 1990, 45 patients (38 males, 7 females) with LMD ranging in age from 37 to 75 years (mean 55.9 +/- 8.7) underwent revascularization using bilateral ITA grafts placed to the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries. The right ITA was used as a free graft in 19 of 45 (42%) patients and the left ITA was used as a free graft in 3 of 35 (7%). No saphenous vein grafts were placed to the left coronary system in any patient. Over half of these patients (24 patients, 53%) also had occlusive disease in the right coronary artery. A saphenous vein graft was placed to the right coronary artery in 22 of 45 (49%) patients. Ventricular function in this patient subset was good (mean LV score 7.1 +/- 2.1). Intra-operative ITA graft flows were 49.7 +/- 29.1 ml/min for grafts to the left anterior descending and 45.5 +/- 31.7 ml/min for circumflex grafts. There were no perioperative deaths. Morbidity included myocardial infarction, stroke and reoperation for bleeding in 1 patient each (2.2%). Low cardiac output occurred in 2 patients (4.4%). No patient had a mediastinal wound infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Aneurysms at a temporopolar artery origin from the internal carotid artery: report of two cases

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Origination of the temporopolar artery (TPA) from the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) represents a rare anatomic variation, and the presence of aneurysms at this uncommon site has never before been reported. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Two patients presented with a sudden onset of headaches and meningism. Computed tomography demonstrated diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage in both cases. Cerebral angiography revealed ruptured aneurysms originating at a TPA origin from the ICA. INTERVENTION: The patients were surgically treated, and the aneurysms were successfully clipped. For technical reasons, the TPA was sacrificed in both cases. CONCLUSION: These are the first reported cases of aneurysms originating at the TPA origin from the ICA. Awareness of the existence of this variation is necessary, particularly for the management of superior wall aneurysms of the ICA.     

Radiation injury involving the internal carotid artery. Report of two cases

Radiation therapy is an uncommon cause of stenosis and occlusions of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA). We describe two cases of cerebral ischemia due to ICA stenosis in patients irradiated for malignant tumors (lymphoma and breast cancer). The first patient, a 32-year-old man, presented with an episode of cerebral ischemia. Six years previously he had received irradiation therapy for a left laterocervical mass histologically diagnosed at biopsy as a Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cerebral angiography on entry revealed bilateral occlusion of the cervical ICA, with a 2-cm stump at the origin of the left ICA. Despite anti-platelet aggregation therapy the ischemic attacks persisted, necessitating a stumpectomy. After vascular-repair surgery the patient had no further ischemic symptoms. The second patient, a 42-year-old woman, began to experience the sudden onset of pain in the right arm and left hemiparesis five years after surgery plus irradiation (4500 rad) for breast cancer, and three years after excision of a single cerebral metastasis. Cerebral angiography obtained on admission showed occlusion of the right ICA and right subclavian arteries, both lesions necessitating thrombectomy. After surgery the right radial pulse immediately re-appeared and the hemiparesis regressed. In both patients, 2-year follow-up assessment by Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) confirmed that the operated arteries remained patent. These two unusual cases underline the potential risk of irradiation-induced ischemic cerebrovascular symptoms, suggesting that patients who have received radiation therapy to the neck and mediastinum who survive for more than 5 years should undergo regular non-invasive imaging of neck vessels (Doppler ultrasonography and MRA).     

颈内动脉内膜剥除术治疗颈内动脉硬化闭塞症36例报告骀

目的探讨颈内动脉内膜剥除术治疗颅外段颈内动脉硬化闭塞症的方法和疗效.方法对36例颈内动脉硬化闭塞症病人分别采用颈内动脉内膜剥除加补片、颈内动脉外膜翻转内膜切除和人造血管置换三种不同的颈内动脉内膜剥除术式,通过治疗效果分析,总结手术经验及手术适应证.结果 36例病人痊愈出院,术后无并发症,随访期内无短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)发作,彩超检查颈内动脉通畅.结论颈内动脉内膜剥除术是治疗颅外段颈内动脉硬化闭塞的有效方法.应根据颈内动脉病变程度和范围选取适当的手术方式.     

颈内动脉内膜剥除术治疗颈内动脉硬化闭塞症36例报告

目的 探讨颈内动脉内膜剥除术治疗颅外段颈内动脉硬化闭塞症的方法和疗效。方法 对36例颈内动脉硬化闭塞症病人分别采用颈内动脉内膜剥除加补片、颈内动脉外膜翻转内膜切除和人造血置换三种不同的颈内动脉内膜剥除术式，通过治疗效果分析，主手术适应证。结果 36例病人痊愈出院，术后无并发症，随访期内无短暂性脑缺血发作（TIA）发作，彩超检查颈内动脉通畅。结论 颈内动脉内膜剥除术是治疗颅内外段颈内动脉硬化闭塞的有效方法。应根据颈内动脉病变程度和范围选取适当的手术方式。     

Effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on native coronary artery stenosis. Comparison of internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein grafts

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of coronary artery bypass grafting on the degree of stenosis of the native coronary artery. METHODS: Experimental design: retrospective data analysis. Setting: University hospital. Patients: consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n=52). Bypasses using internal thoracic artery grafts (n=26) and saphenous vein grafts (n=37) to incompletely occluded coronary arteries were studied. Interventions: coronary artery bypass grafting using internal thoracic artery or saphenous vein grafts. Measures: stenosis of the native coronary artery on angiography. RESULTS: Three recipient coronary arteries bypassed with internal thoracic artery grafts (12%) and 14 recipient coronary arteries bypassed with saphenous vein grafts (38%) showed progression of narrowing (p=0.024). Two recipient coronary arteries bypassed with internal thoracic artery grafts (8%) and 13 recipient coronary arteries bypassed with saphenous vein grafts (35%) showed total occlusion (p=0.016). Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking history did not correlate with progression of stenosis of the native coronary arteries. Graft flow measured during surgery in the saphenous vein grafts was not significantly different between the group that exhibited progression of the native stenosis and the group that did not. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting with saphenous vein grafts may result in progression of stenosis of the recipient coronary artery. This is less likely after coronary artery bypass grafting with internal thoracic artery grafts. This difference may be due to the ability of the pedicled internal thoracic artery graft to regulate flow. Thus competitive flow in the native coronary artery is minimized. This has significant clinical implications.     

Left internal thoracic artery composite grafting with the right internal thoracic versus radial artery in coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to compare the results of all arterial multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting using the left internal thoracic artery composite bypass graft constructed with the right internal thoracic artery or radial artery. Methods: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with a left internal thoracic artery constructed as a composite bypass graft with either a right internal thoracic artery (n = 45; RITA group) or radial artery (n = 352; RA group) between 2003 and 2009 were included in the present study. Results: The three‐year patency rates for the RITA and RA groups were 91.8%± 4.3% and 78.6%± 3.4%, respectively (p = 0.12). Adjustments for covariates revealed the radial artery patency to be significantly inferior to the right internal thoracic artery graft (hazard ratio 4.35, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 18.0; p = 0.043). Reintervention for target coronary artery occlusion was required in two patients in the RA group over a mean follow‐up period of 35.5 ± 21.5 months. There were 43 deaths in the entire cohort of which 20 were cardiac. After adjustment for significant variables, the risk of all‐cause mortality, cardiac death, and the composite of adverse events (death, reintervention, myocardial infarction, and stroke) were similar for the two groups (p = 0.98, 0.99, and 0.21, respectively). Conclusions: Although superior patency was observed with the right internal thoracic artery over the radial artery graft, a significant commensurate benefit in reducing the incidence of major adverse clinical outcomes was not necessarily shown. (J Card Surg 2011;26:579‐585)     

Traumatic occlusion of the extracranial internal carotid artery. Report of two cases

Two cases of tapered occlusion of the unilateral internal carotid artery after head and facial injury are reported. The first was a 42-year-old male admitted because of left hemiparesis 3 hours after receiving blows to the face. Computed tomography (CT) scan obtained 10 hours after injury showed an area of slight low density in the right frontotemporal region. Carotid angiography demonstrated tapered occlusion of the right cervical internal carotid artery. A large cerebral infarction had developed in the right hemisphere and the patient died 10 days after the traumatic incident. The second case involved a 45-year-old male hospitalized with aphasia and right hemiparesis about 1 month after incurring a depressed fracture of the left temporal bone. CT revealed two small low-density areas in the left corona radiata, and carotid angiography disclosed tapered occlusion of the left cervical internal carotid artery. The neurological signs gradually improved after anticoagulant therapy. Early diagnosis of traumatic cervical carotid artery occlusion may be difficult in the absence of apparent cervical trauma with focal cerebral symptoms appearing after a lucid interval. No definitive management has been established and the prognosis is poor. It is emphasized that unusual neurological symptoms following head or cervical trauma should provoke suspicion of carotid artery injury, which, on diagnosis, should be promptly treated.     

Reoperative off-pump subclavian-coronary artery bypass grafting in an elderly patient with left internal thoracic artery stenosis]

A 80-year-old Japanese female was diagnosed to have angina pectoris and admitted to our hospital. She had been operated on with mitral valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting to right and circumflex coronary artery 4 years before. The coronary angiogram showed significant stenosis with severe calcification in the left anterior descending coronary artery, and it was unsuitable for catheter intervention. The patient also had stenotic left internal thoracic artery and multiple cerebral infarction, but successful off-pump subclavian-coronary artery bypass grafting using saphenous vein graft through small thoracotomy was performed without new neurological deficit. This procedure is useful for patients with left internal thoracic artery unsuitable for MIDCABG, due to quality, size, or injury during preparation.