Multivessel coronary revascularization with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts

Sixteen patients underwent coronary revascularization with bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts between 1988 and 1989 at the Okayama University Hospital. A total 39 coronary grafts were performed, being an average of 2.4 grafts per patient. Each patient received bilateral ITA grafts, and in 5 patients an additional 7 grafts were constructed with 5 autologous veins and 2 gastroepiloic arteries. The right ITA was grafted as a free graft in 4 patients. The ITA graft patency rate was 96.8 per cent (31/32) at the time of hospital discharge. The postoperative morbidity included one reoperation for bleeding and one myocardial infarction. Coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral ITA grafts can be safely performed and its application facilitates complete revascularization with arterial grafts.     

Bilateral pedicled internal thoracic artery grafting

Background: Pedicled bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting (BITA) has been discouraged in historical high-risk groups such as diabetes mellitus (DM), renal failure, old age, and obesity because of reported high incidence of mediastinitis. However, considering the fact that there are abundant short and long-term results including angiography study about the conventional pedicled grafts, it might be worthwhile reassessing the results of pedicled BITA grafting with modern techniques by a disciplined surgical team before abandoning the method. Methods: Between September 1989 and September 1999, 1371 patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Kumamoto central hospital. Of these patients, 558 patients who had bilateral ITA strategy (mean age 63.0±9.2 years, 13–79) were studied. The method of harvest of ITAs is consistently the use of conventional pedicled grafts. The use of bone wax and unnecessary electrocautery injury to the periostium or cartilage were avoided as much as possible. The only change in the surgical technique in the study period is the application of the pinpoint hemostasis for the presternal tissues from August 1997 (late period). Results: In late period, there were significantly more patients with sternal sepsis risk factors such as diabetes mellitus (early: late; 19.3% vs. 34.8%, P<0.00003), and renal failure (0.3 vs. 9.7%, P<0.0001) as well as patients who had gastroepiploic artery grafting (16.9 vs 48.5%, P<0.0001) and those who required aortic non-touch technique (2.1 vs. 7.9%, P<0.001). The percentage of the patients receiving BITA grafting among the isolated CABG patients increased in the late period from 31.7% (331/1043) to 69.2% (227/328) (P<0.001), reflecting that a more aggressive approach towards bilateral ITA and arterial grafting has been taken in the late period. Overall operative mortality was 1.1% (n=6). Mediastinitis occurred in seven patients (1.3%). Of these, only one mediastinitis occurred in late period (0.4%). No mediastinitis occurred in 23 chronic renal dialysis patients. Among the 143 DM patients, there were three mediastinitis (2.1%). Of three, only one occurred in late period, yielding 1.3% mediastinitis rate. There was one mediastinitis (0.7%) among 134 elderly patients more than 70 years of age. Univariate analysis identified obesity as a risk factor for mediastinitis. And there was a trend of decreasing mediastinits in late period but did not reached a statistical significance (P<0.2). Multivariate analysis identified obesity and arteriosclerosis obliterates as independent risk factors. Neither diabetes mellitus, dialysis, female gender, nor old age were significant independent predictors of mediastinitis. Despite the significantly high percentage of high-risk patients in late group, there were no significant difference in mortality and morbidity between the two groups. Conclusion: Pedicled BITA grafting is feasible with acceptable morbidity and shouldn't be abandoned even in high-risk patients such as DM, old age, and dialysis, especially combined with pinpoint-hemostasis, avoiding excessive use of bone wax, and strict aseptic technique. These point require a surgical team familiar with these techniques to maintain adequate skills in conduit procurement.     

Extended use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries for coronary artery bypass grafting in the elderly

Objective: Internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts provide better early and long-term patency than saphenous vein (SV) grafts. Furthermore, bilateral ITA grafting has recently demonstrated better long-term results than unilateral ITA grafting. However, its use in the elderly is controversial. Methods: From March 1991 through November 2001, 307 consecutive patients aged 65 years or over undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were reviewed, and the influence of bilateral ITA grafting on the early and long-term results was evaluated. All ITA grafts were harvested as a pedicle, and almost all of which were used as in-situ grafts. Results: Operative mortality in 138 patients undergoing bilateral ITA grafting was 1.4%, and in 108 patients undergoing unilateral ITA grafting, the rate was 0.9%. Predischarge angiography conducted in 97% of the subjects showed that the patency rate of all the ITA grafts (98.9%) was superior (p<0.0001) to that of all the SV grafts (93.6%). In comparisons of survival and freedom from cardiac events at 10 years after CABG, the bilateral use of ITA grafts was proved to be more beneficial than the unilateral use (p<0.05). Conclusions: It was demonstrated that bilateral ITA grafting could be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity. Moreover, it offers better long-term survival and freedom from cardiac events than either unilateral ITA grafting or no ITA grafting. Bilateral ITA grafting thus can serve as a favorable procedure even in elderly patients.     

Aortic valve replacement after midline-crossed internal thoracic artery grafting

In the presence of a midline-crossed internal thoracic artery graft, a median sternotomy may jeopardize the graft and compromise hemodynamics. We report successful aortic valve replacement using a "staircase" thoracotomy and hypothermic axillary perfusion with balloon aortic occlusion in 2 men who had patent right internal thoracic artery grafts that was previously anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery.     

A systematic review and meta-analysis of in situ versus composite bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting

Objectives

This meta-analysis examines whether there is any advantage of coronary artery bypass graft with bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) as an in situ versus composite graft.

Early results of complete off-pump coronary revascularization using left internal thoracic artery with composite radial artery

Objective: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) with a composite radial artery (RA) was employed for arterial revascularization in order to minimize neurological complication. Methods: Sixty-one patients underwent OPCAB using the LITA with a composite RA. Angiography was performed in all patients at two weeks postoperatively. Results: The mean number of distal anastomoses was 3.2±0.4 A Y-composite graft was used in 55 patients, and K-composite graft was used in the other 6 patients. There was no hospital death, no neurological complication nor deep sternal infection Furthermore, there was no episode of perioperative myocardial infarction nor hypoperfusion syndrome. Patients have been angina-free during a mean follow-up period of 1 year. The graft patency of the LITA to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was 100% (61/61 anastomoses). The RA became occluded in 4 patients, and the patency rate was 95.6% (130/136 anastomoses). String or coronary-coronary bypass resulting from flow competition was observed in the LITA of 6 patients and in the RA of 13 patients. The string of the LITA occurred in the segment distal from the anastomosis with the composite RA. The string or coronary-coronary bypass was observed more often in cases in which the recipient coronary artery had less than 75% stenosis. Conclusion: OPCAB using only the LITA with a composite RA can be successfully and safely performed in patients with multivessel disease. Late postoperative follow-up of the flow competition is necessary to delineate the significance of flow competion.     

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using in situ bilateral skeletonized internal thoracic arteries

Objective All arterial off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) with in situ bilateral skeletonized internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) may become a standard procedure that would provide better long-term results without affecting early results. Methods Our study included 404 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB with one or two ITAs. We compared the clinical results of 135 patients who underwent OPCAB using unilateral ITA (UITA group) to those of 269 patients using bilateral ITAs (BITA group). Results The average number of distal anastomoses was 3.07 in the UITA group and 3.47 in the BITA group (P < 0.01). Four operative mortalities occurred in the UITA group and two in the BITA group. There were no significant differences in morbidity between the two groups. Conclusion OPCAB using bilateral skeletonized ITAs is technically feasible, with good early results. Arterial OPCAB using in situ bilateral skeletonized ITAs may become a standard procedure in the future.     

Age cut-off for the loss of benefit from bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting

OBJECTIVES: To identify the age-related benefit of single and bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafting on long-term cardiac-related survival in patients who survived from primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: A unicenter study was conducted on 12,231 consecutive survivors from primary isolated CABG who received single (n=9566 patients) or bilateral (n=1388 patients) ITA grafts, or vein grafts only (n=1277 patients) between 1992 and 2005. Data was collected prospectively. The Cox regression model estimates the hazard ratio of each independent variable on cardiac-specific survival over the entire length of follow-up. Age was a significant covariate into the statistical model. The mean follow-up was 5.7+/-3.7 years and 100% complete as of December 2005. The date and cause of death were obtained from the regional statistical institute. RESULTS: After adjustments for different risk factors, the cardiac-related survival benefit in patients undergoing CABG with two ITAs was superior to that of single ITA grafting up to 60 years of age, displaying a constant decrease over time. The use of a single ITA was beneficial on cardiac-related survival in all age groups, including octogenarians, compared to patients receiving only vein grafts. CONCLUSIONS: The use of at least one ITA is associated with increased long-term cardiac-specific survival in all age groups compared to venous-only CABG, even in octogenarians. The additional survival benefit of using a second ITA decreases gradually with age, and is lost after 60 years of age.     

Current trends in bilateral internal thoracic artery use for coronary revascularization: Extending benefit to high-risk patients

Background

We sought to identify the trends in bilateral internal thoracic artery use and determine the degree to which the survival advantage of bilateral internal thoracic artery revascularization persists among perceived “high-risk” patients, compared with the use of left internal thoracic artery alone.

Internal thoracic artery malperfusion syndrome after bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting: Report of a case

(Received for publication on Sept. 17, 1996; accepted on May 12, 1997)     

Coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral internal thoracic arteries for Bland-White-Garland syndrome in an adult

A 46-year-old man with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (Bland-White-Garland syndrome) is reported. We successfully performed coronary artery bypass grafting with the use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries and ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery. The patient was discharged from the hospital after an uneventful postoperative course and postoperative coronary angiography, which revealed patent internal thoracic arteries and no leakage of blood flow from the anomalous left coronary artery to the pulmonary artery. This surgical procedure is technically simple and useful for adult patients with Bland-White-Garland syndrome. To our knowledge, this is one of only a few reports on coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral internal thoracic arteries as a treatment of Bland-White-Garland syndrome.     

A pathohistological and biochemical study of arteriosclerosis in the internal thoracic artery,a vessel commonly used as a graft in coronary artery bypass surgery

Pathohistological and biochemical studies were conducted on the severity of arteriosclerosis in the internal thoracic artery (ITA), an artery commonly used for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). For the pathohistological examination, 26 bilateral ITAs and 13 left anterior descending coronary arteries (LADs) obtained in full length from 13 autopsy cases, none of which had died of arteriosclerotic heart disease, were used. The ratio of the thickness of the intima to that of the media (R) was used as the index for arteriosclerosis. ITAs and LADs were classified as grades I to IV according to the value of R. The R of the ITAs was approximately 1/10 that of the LADs (P<0.01). Most ITAs showed a low arteriosclerotic grade, with no variation in arteriosclerosis along their length and a low R in all segments. No difference was found between right and left ITAs. Biochemical examination was conducted on 12 ITAs and 11 LADs, obtained from 12 different and unselected autopsy cases. The lipid content in the vascular wall was determined to evaluate the severity of arteriosclerosis, with the following results: Total cholesterol, 5.5±1.8 and 17.8±13.6 g/mg wet weight (P<0.05); triglyceride, 90.4±90.3 and 114.4±117.2 g/mg wet weight (n.s.); and phospholipid, 7.4±3.9 and 11.2±3.9 g/mg wet weight (P<0.05), respectively, for the ITAs and LADs. These findings thus demonstrate that arteriosclerosis of the ITA in Japanese people is very mild, compared to that of the LAD in the same individuals.     

乳内动脉在70岁以上患者冠状动脉旁路移植手术中的应用

目的 总结70岁以上患者冠状动脉旁路移植手术中应用乳内动脉的利弊.方法 2010年7月1日至2012年8月20日,1471例70岁以上患者行单纯冠状动脉旁路移植手术共,占同期6156例单纯CABG手术者的23.10％.其中男1030例,女441例,年龄(73.3±3.9)岁.1395例采用非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术(off-pump CABG),76例采用体外循环(on-pump CABG),其中12例采用体外循环不停跳(on-pump beating heart CABG).旁路移植移植旁路血管(3.12±0.68)支.按移植血管材料分为2组:A组:564例全部应用大隐静脉;B组:907例患者应用左乳内动脉建立与左前降支旁路移植手术,其中42例应用桡动脉及胃网膜右动脉进行全动脉化旁路移植手术,其余靶血管均应用大隐静脉作为血管移植物旁路移植.结果 A组死亡12例(2.12％),B组死亡19例(2.09％),组间差异无统计学意义.B组术后早期引流量明显高于A组,二次开胸止血、恶性心律失常、脑卒中、伤口愈合不良和IABP使用例数等指标两组之间差异均无统计学意义.结论 70岁以上高龄患者旁路移植冠状动脉旁路移植选择左乳内动脉作为左前降支的旁路移植旁路血管材料,不增加手术死亡和术后严重并发症的发生率.乳内动脉在远期通畅率方面的优势明显,建议70岁以上高龄患者旁路移植优先选择左乳内动脉作为左前降支的旁路移植旁路移植血管.     

Lateral origin of the right internal thoracic artery: Report of a case

We report herein the unusual case of a patient in whom postoperative angiography following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) revealed a lateral origin of the right internal thoracic artery (ITA) and a normal origin of the left ITA, both of which were demonstrated to be patent and did not follow a tortuous course. The CABG had involved revascularization of the left antrior descending artery (LAD) with the right ITA, and the obtuse marginal artery with the left ITA. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and developed no respiratory symptoms.     

Bilateral internal thoracic artery injury induced by blunt trauma

A case is reported of a 52-year-old man with bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) injury induced by blunt trauma. He was a laborer at a construction site who was hit on the anterior chest by a ceiling block. On arrival at the hospital at one hour after the accident, his general condition was good, and the chest computed tomography (CT) showed a slight hematoma at the mediastinum. However, at 4 hours after the trauma, the blood pressure fell, and the CT showed a large anterior mediastinal hematoma with bilateral hemothorax. A median sternotomy revealed bilateral ITA injury at the level of the 3^rd intercostal space and incomplete fractures in the sternum and bilateral rib cartilages. Although hemostasis was achieved by ligation of the injured ITA, bleeding re-occurred from the ITA at the level of the 2^nd intercostal space, and this was stopped by a second operation. The patient recovered without any further significant complication. The rarity of blunt trauma-induced ITA injury is discussed, including the mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment.     

冠脉旁路移植术中桡动脉的获取和应用

目的总结冠状动脉旁路移植术中桡动脉的获取方法和早期临床效果。方法22例冠状动脉旁路移植术患者,行量化Allen试验决定是否切取桡动脉。桡动脉伴随静脉一起切取,术中不直接接触桡动脉,严格避免夹镊桡动脉本身;离断后腔内注入肝素罂粟碱液,并将桡动脉置于该液中备用。共获取桡动脉22根,远端吻合至冠状动脉后降支、钝缘支及前降支,近端均吻合至主动脉。术后常规应用钙通道阻滞剂12个月。结果术后患者心绞痛消失,心功能显著改善,无围术期心肌梗死。无术中桡动脉痉挛现象,围术期无出血、栓塞合并症,无手臂缺血发生。结论桡动脉移植物可常规应用于冠状动脉旁路移植术;严格的“免触”技术和术后应用钙通道阻滞剂是保证桡动脉良好功能的关键。