Objective assessment of coronary angioplasty for multivessel disease: results of exercise stress testing

The efficacy of coronary angioplasty in multivessel coronary artery disease was evaluated in a series of 145 consecutive patients in whom angioplasty had been successful and in whom a follow-up exercise stress test was performed within 2 months. Exercise stress test results of these patients with multivessel disease were compared with those of 177 patients with single vessel disease after successful coronary angioplasty. The postangioplasty exercise test showed ischemia in 13% of patients with single vessel and 29% of those with multivessel disease, although only 7 and 13%, respectively, experienced angina. The mean exercise duration was comparable for patients with multivessel disease (453 +/- 174 s) and single vessel disease (476 +/- 166 s). To assess the impact of the degree of revascularization in patients with multivessel disease on the results of exercise testing, 48 patients with completely revascularized vessels and 97 with incompletely revascularized vessels were evaluated. The mean exercise duration (459 +/- 178 versus 450 +/- 173 s), mean maximal heart rate (132 +/- 31 versus 136 +/- 25 beats/min) and mean systolic blood pressure (174 +/- 25 versus 170 +/- 26 mm Hg) were similar in completely and incompletely revascularized groups. Exercise-induced angina occurred in 13% of both groups. Ischemic ST segments were more common in the incompletely revascularized group (34 versus 19%, p = 0.06). Thus, exercise stress testing provides evidence that successful angioplasty can relieve electrocardiographic manifestations of ischemia as well as anginal symptoms in the majority of patients with either single or multivessel coronary artery disease who are suitable candidates for the procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Association between early graft patency and late outcome for patients undergoing artery bypass graft surgery

For a group of 658 patients who received coronary artery bypass graft surgery, we investigated the correlation between the degree of early (6 months) graft patency and recurrence of anginal symptoms, late myocardial infarction, and postoperative coronary-related death. The patients were grouped according to the number of surgically placed grafts, and each group was further subgrouped on the basis of the number of grafts functioning at the early postsurgical follow-up examination. The patients were observed over a period as long as 13 years. The frequency with which angina returned correlated significantly with the degree of patency within each of the groups (one, two, three, or four grafts); patients with a higher percentage of patent grafts experienced longer periods of freedom from angina. On the average, patients with all of their multiple grafts patent experienced at least 7 more years of symptomatic relief than their counterparts with all grafts occluded. Most surprisingly, the rate of the return of angina for those patients who had all grafts patent and were completely revascularized was independent of the number of diseased vessels or the number of grafts placed. The findings for coronary death and postoperative infarction showed similar trends.     

What constitutes optimal surgical revascularization? Answers from the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI)

OBJECTIVES: The study was done to derive the optimum definition of complete revascularization in coronary artery bypass surgery. BACKGROUND: "Complete revascularization" has been considered the goal of coronary artery bypass operations, but various definitions of completeness exist. METHODS: We evaluated the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) surgical results in the seven years after operation. Different definitions of completeness of revascularization were retrospectively applied to the 1,507 patients in the combined randomized/registry group to derive the definition of complete operative revascularization with the best discrimination in long-term results between those with and without complete revascularization as defined. Four definitions were evaluated: 1) traditional complete revascularization with one graft to each major diseased artery system; 2) functional complete revascularization with one graft to all diseased major or primary segmental vessels; 3) number of distal anastomoses greater than, equal to or less than the number of diseased coronary segments; and 4) number of distal anastomoses to the major coronary systems equal to 1 or greater than 1. RESULTS: No independent survival advantage existed for traditional or functional complete revascularization as compared with incomplete revascularization. No survival advantage existed for any of the three arms of definition 3. For definition 4, seven-year death/myocardial infarction was highest (32.9%) when more than one anastomosis was constructed to any non-left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) system (relative risk 1.37, p = 0.03). No increased risk was associated with constructing more than one anastomosis into the LAD system. CONCLUSIONS: The construction of more than one graft to any system other than the LAD appears to confer no long-term advantage, and may actually be deleterious.     

Chronic total occlusion revascularization: A complex piece to "complete" the puzzle

Treatment of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has rapidly increased during the past decades. Different strategies and approach were developed in the recent past years leading to an increase in CTO-PCI procedural success. The goal to achieve an extended revascularization with a high rate of completeness is now supported by strong scientific evidences and consequently, has led to an exponential increase in the number of CTO-PCI procedures, even if are still underutilized. It has been widely demonstrated that complete coronary revascularization, achieved by either coronary artery bypass graft or PCI, is associated with prognostic improvement, in terms of increased survival and reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events. The application of “contemporary” strategies aimed to obtain a state-of-the-art revascularization by PCI allows to achieve long-term clinical benefit, even in high-risk patients or complex coronary anatomy with CTO. The increasing success of CTO-PCI, allowing a complete or reasonable incomplete coronary revascularization, is enabling to overcome the last great challenge of interventional cardiology, adding a “complex” piece to “complete” the puzzle.     

Percutaneous revascularization of an extensively diseased saphenous vein bypass graft with a saphenous vein-covered Palmaz stent

A 68-year-old man developed unstable angina 12 years following coronary artery bypass surgery. Angiography revealed an extensive area of severe stenosis and diminished distal flow in a right coronary artery vein bypass graft. Given the high distal embolism rate associated with conventional catheter-based treatment of old degenerated vein grafts, the diseased area was “relined” with a composite autologous saphenous vein-covered stent. The procedure was performed using modifications of standard PTCA methods and resulted in a widely patent, smooth lumen. This initial case demonstrates that a degenerated saphenous vein graft can be successfully revascularized with an autologous saphenous vein-covered stent in an attempt to minimize the potential complications of standard catheter-based revascularization methods. Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 40:75–78, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effect of completeness of revascularization on long-term outcome of patients with three-vessel disease undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. A report from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) Registry.

BACKGROUND. Complete revascularization after coronary artery bypass surgery is a logical goal and improves symptomatic outcome and survival. However, the impact of complete revascularization in patients with three-vessel coronary disease with varying severities of angina and left ventricular dysfunction has not been clearly defined. METHODS AND RESULTS. The study was performed as a retrospective analysis of 3,372 nonrandomized surgical patients from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) Registry who had three-vessel coronary disease. Group 1 (894 patients) had class I or II angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society criteria) and group 2 (2,478 patients) had class III or IV angina. In group 1, adjusted cumulative 4-year survivals according to the number of vessels bypassed were 85% (one vessel), 94% (two vessels), 96% (three vessels), and 96% (more than three vessels) (log rank, p = 0.022). Adjusted event-free survival (death, myocardial infarction, definite angina, or reoperation) was not influenced by the number of vessels bypassed, nor was the anginal status among patients remaining alive after 5 years. In group 2, adjusted cumulative 5-year survivals were 78% (one vessel), 85% (two vessels), 90% (three vessels), and 87% (more than three vessels) (log rank, p = 0.074). Adjusted event-free survivals after 6 years were 23% (one vessel), 23% (two vessels), 29% (three vessels), and 31% (more than three vessels) (p = 0.025); at 5 years, those with more complete revascularization were more likely to be asymptomatic or free of severe angina. Among group 2 patients with ejection fractions less than 0.35, 6-year survival was 69% for those with grafts to three or more vessels versus 45% for those with grafts to two vessels (p = 0.04). Placing grafts to three or more vessels was independently associated with improved survival and event-free survival in group 2 but not group 1 patients. The case-fatality rates among 529 patients experiencing a myocardial infarction during follow-up was significantly higher for patients with less complete revascularization. CONCLUSIONS. Complete revascularization (grafts to three or more vessels) in patients with three-vessel coronary disease appears to most benefit those with severe angina and left ventricular dysfunction.     

Health-related quality of life outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease treated with cardiac surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention or medical management

BACKGROUND: Given the repeated findings of little or no difference in mortality outcomes between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with or without stent and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), there is a need to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes associated with revascularization decisions. OBJECTIVE: To compare risk-adjusted HRQOL outcomes by treatment strategy one year following cardiac catheterization. METHODS: Using an inception cohort study design, the sample included all Alberta residents, 18 years of age or older, referred for cardiac catheterization, from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 1998, with two or more diseased coronary vessels at catheterization. Patients received a follow-up questionnaire including the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), one year following their index catheterization. The SAQ comprises five dimensional scales measuring exertional capacity, anginal stability, anginal frequency, treatment satisfaction and quality of life. RESULTS: Three thousand three hundred ninety-two (78.1%) patients responded to the follow-up survey. Responders who were revascularized consistently reported significantly better HRQOL compared with responders treated with medical management. Responders undergoing CABG reported significantly better HRQOL in all but one SAQ dimension compared with responders who had either a PCI with or without stent. Responders who had a PCI with stent reported better HRQOL compared with responders who underwent a PCI without a stent. CONCLUSION: The treatment decision to revascularize the coronary vessels, whether with PCI with or without a stent or with CABG, was consistently associated with significantly better HRQOL at one-year follow-up compared with patients treated with medical therapy.     

Importance of complete revascularization in performance of the coronary bypass operation

Cardiac Data Bank records of 1,238 patients with triple-vessel disease (greater than or equal to 50% diameter reduction) who had undergone coronary bypass surgery were reviewed and divided into 2 groups depending on whether complete (n = 773) or incomplete (n = 465) revascularization had been accomplished. Patients with complete revascularization had a higher incidence of a normal preoperative electrocardiogram than did patients with incomplete revascularization (23 versus 14%, respectively, p less than 0.0001). The ejection fraction for both completely and incompletely revascularized patients was good (m = 0.60 and 0.57, respectively). The mean number of grafts per patient for the 2 groups was 3.8 and 2.6 (p less than 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to postoperative inotropic requirements (8 and 7%), ventricular arrhythmias (1.8 and less than 1%), necessity for intraaortic balloon pumping (1.6 and 1.5%, hospital mortality (1.2 and 2.8%), or myocardial infarction (4.3 and 4.8%). Survival at 5 years was significantly greater (p less than 0.001) in patients with complete (88.5%) than in those with incomplete revascularization (83.5%). Reemployment occurred more often in patients with complete (52%) than in those with incomplete revascularization (40%) (p less than 0.001), and more patients were free of angina after complete (70%) than after incomplete revascularization (58%) (p less than 0.0005). Long-term survival appeared to be mediated primarily through improved revascularization rather than through differences in left ventricular function.     

Persistence of improved exercise tolerance and degree of revascularization after coronary bypass surgery. A prospective randomized study.

Exercise tolerance was repeatedly determined over a 2-year period in a series of 100 patients with coronary heart disease randomly allocated for medical therapy and coronary bypass surgery. The surgical group had a consistently better exercise tolerance than the medical group during the whole follow-up. Completeness of the revascularization, assessed by repeated graft and native vessel angiography, resulted in a marked improvement whereas incompletely revascularized patients exhibited only a marginal improvement which, nevertheless, to some degree exceeded the result of medical management alone. It is concluded that coronary bypass surgery and medical therapy, when indicated, result in markedly better exercise tolerance than medical management alone. This improvement persists up two years after the operation and is largely dependent on the completeness of the revascularization.     

Stress electrocardiography in the evaluation of aortocoronary bypass surgery

Forty-five patients having saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass surgery were studied prospectively by pre- and post-operative hypoxemia and graded exercise electrocardiography. The stress electrocardiographic results were correlated with the degree of symptomatic relief and the angiographic evidence of graft patency and the distribution and evolution of coronary occlusive disease.Forty-one of the total group of 45 patients (91 per cent) and 32 of 34 (94 per cent) with one or more documented open grafts had excellent or good symptomatic improvement. Incongruously, five of seven patients with closed grafts also had significant clinical improvement.Functional improvement was documented in 53 per cent of patients after aortocoronary bypass surgery, in terms of postoperative reversal of the preoperatively positive stress ECG or persistance of a negative stress ECG, together with the achievement of significantly greater mean maximum exercise and heart rate. All of these patients had one or more patent saphenous vein bypass grafts. Forty-seven per cent of the patients failed to display objective evidence of improvement: post-operatively the stress ECG either remained positive, or became so, and, collectively, the group was unable to significantly increase the mean maximum exercise level or heart rate, in comparison to that achieved before surgery. Only 65 per cent of these subjects had one or more patent bypass grafts.Stress electrocardiography and quantitation of the maximum work and heart rate achieved by exercise provide accurate assessments of the relief of myocardial ischemia produced by myocardial revascularization. In this study, when the post-operative stress ECG was negative and the patient was able to achieve significantly greater exercise and heart rate, the probability of patency of one or more bypass grafts was virtually certain. On the other hand, when the postoperative stress ECG was positive and little or no increase in exercise and heart rate was possible, there was high probability of graft occlusion or significant residual coronary disease.     

Late angiograms ten years after transmyocardial laser revascularization

We present the angiograms of a patient after transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR), which were performed 10 years before by the application of holmium laser pulses. Thirteen years before the TMR procedure, the patient underwent coronary artery bypass graftings complicated by graft occlusion with no longer possibility of direct revascularization. Then, refractive angina required an alternative approach for symptom relief as the indirect revascularization by the application of the holmium laser pulses. Interestingly, the late angiograms, taken when the patient suffered from effort dyspnea for ongoing left ventricular dysfunction, showed a network of small vessels (absent before the TMR procedure) that supplies blood to the heart with no flow through the coronary arteries because of their complete occlusion. This is a historical presentation of the results of TMR to understand the effects of the indirect revascularization on the blood circulation through the heart over the long-term follow-up.     

Successful multiple segment coronary angioplasty: effect of completeness of revascularization in single-vessel multilesions and multivessels

A long-term follow-up study was performed to evaluate the long-term value of performing multiple dilatations according to their procedural (single-vessel multilesion or mutltivessel dilatations) and anatomic types (single-vessel disease with multiple dilatations or multivessel disease dilatations with complete and incomplete revascularization). From 1980 until 1988, 248 patients met the following criteria: (1) at least two lesions dilated (range: 2 to 4) and (2) all attempted lesions successfully dilated. The mean length of follow-up was 33 months. The end points analyzed were death, myocardial infarction, redilatation, and bypass surgery. No differences were found for these events between the single-vessel multilesion group (144 patients) and the multivessel group (104 patients). The 4.5-year probability of event-free survival was 68% and 70%, respectively, for the multilesion group and the multivessel group. In the event-free patients, 57% versus 59% were asymptomatic and 45% versus 46% were not taking antianginal drugs. In the anatomic subgroups, there were less event-free patients in the cohort of incompletely revascularized multivessel disease patients (55% of 55 patients) when compared with the cohort of those who were completely revascularized (84% of 79 patients) or when compared with the single-vessel disease multiple dilatation patients (74% of 107 patients). The 4.5-year event-free survival probability for each group was 44%, 78%, and 74%, respectively. This difference was caused by more infarctions (9% versus 2% versus 4%, respectively) and bypass operations in the multivessel disease, incomplete revascularization group (20% versus 5% versus 10%, respectively). In event-free patients, improvement of angina was similar and was documented in over 85% of patients in each group. Furthermore, the number of asymptomatic patients at follow-up was similar in all groups except that within the incomplete revascularization group, less patients were free of antianginal drugs (21% versus 51% versus 48%). Finally, 48% of the entire cohort performed an exercise test 4.6 months (mean) after dilatation and no difference was found in any of the variables in any group. About 10% of the patients experienced angina and approximately 30% had a positive exercise test for ischemia by ST segment criteria. The functional performance in every group was over 90% of the predicted work load. These results suggest that completeness of revascularization in multivessel disease patients is an important prognostic variable. However, the symptomatic improvement after dilatation is very rewarding in all subsets of patients and argues in favor of the continued use of multiple dilatations as a treatment strategy.     

Patients with coronary artery disease not amenable to traditional revascularization: Prevalence and 3‐year mortality

Objectives: To determine the contemporary prevalence of and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) not amenable to revascularization. Background: A growing number of patients have severe CAD with ongoing angina despite optimal medical therapy which is not amenable to traditional revascularization. Limited data exist on contemporary prevalence and outcome for these patients. Methods: Clinical and angiographic data were reviewed for 493 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography and revascularization if indicated. Patients were categorized into six groups: (1) normal coronary arteries, (2) CAD <70%, (3) CAD >70% with complete revascularization by percutaneous intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting, (4) CAD >70% with partial revascularization, (5) CAD >70% treated medically, and (6) CAD >70% on optimal medical therapy with no revascularization option. All‐cause mortality at 3 years was determined. Results: Prevalence for groups 1–6 was 14.8, 19.5, 36.9, 12.8, 9.3, and 6.7%, respectively. Three‐year mortality increased with angiographic severity of CAD: 2.7, 6.3, 8.2, 12.7, 17.4, and 15.2%, respectively. Patients with incomplete revascularization (groups 4–6, n = 142) had higher mortality than completely revascularized patients (groups 1–3, n = 351): 14.8 vs. 6.6% (P = 0.004). Conclusions: In a contemporary series of patients undergoing coronary angiography, 28.8% (142/493) of patients had significant CAD and did not undergo complete revascularization, including 12.8% partially revascularized, 9.3% managed medically, and 6.7% with “no‐option.” These patients had higher mortality at 3 years (14.8 vs. 6.6%, P = 0.004) when compared with completely revascularized patients. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Benefits of coronary artery bypass surgery.

More than 150,000 Americans have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery since this operation was first available on a nationwide scale in 1968. From data now available, we can better evaluate the various mechanisms by which bypass surgery has been thought to relieve anginal symptoms, and whether or not this operation improves ventricular function and increases survival. Most individuals have substantial or complete relief of angina after surgery, no longer require nitroglycerin or beta blocking agents, and are able to return to full physical and sexual activity. A bypass graft restores the capacity of a proximally obstructed coronary artery to increase its blood flow level up to fourfold more than resting levels with exertion. Also, evidence is now appearing that bypass surgery can improve survival in patients with advanced coronary artery disease.     

Myocardial revascularization for chronic stable angina. Analysis of the role of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty based on data available in 1989

No prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and conservative therapy has been reported. To address when revascularization is indicated, we constructed a decision analytic model. Our model incorporates procedure-related mortality and morbidity, coronary artery disease-related mortality, and the benefit of revascularization. We determined the quality-adjusted life expectancy and expected costs for each strategy. Our model suggests that angioplasty is a reasonable alternative to bypass surgery in patients with favorable lesions if angioplasty would provide a comparable degree of revascularization. Our model predicts that patients treated with angioplasty will have more revascularization procedures than will patients treated with bypass surgery but predicts that both treatments will cost the same over the typical patient's lifetime. In many patients with severe angina or documented ischemia, angioplasty is indicated for stenosis of a single artery. In patients with two vessel disease that is amenable to angioplasty, angioplasty may be a reasonable alternative to bypass surgery. Even in patients whose three vessel disease can be completely revascularized by angioplasty, bypass surgery, although relatively expensive, is slightly better than angioplasty. In patients with three vessel disease and comorbidities that increase operative risk, angioplasty may be a reasonable alternative to either bypass surgery or medical therapy.     

Mechanism of relief of angina after coronary bypass surgery: an angiographic study.

Coronary angiography was performed before and after coronary revascularization in 67 patients. The interval between studies ranged from 1 to 38 months (average 9.9). The patients were separated into four clinical groups on the basis of their symptoms at the time of restudy; Group I, 13 asymptomatic patients; Group II, 19 patients with nonanginal chest pain (18 cases) or dyspnea (1 case); Group III, 12 patients whose angina was relieved but not eliminated; and Group IV, 23 patients whose angina was not alleviated. The graft patency rate was 72 percent in Group I, 78 percent in Group II, 61 percent in Group IIII and 34 percent in Group IV. The sum of diseased, but not bypassed and unsuccessfully bypassed arteries per patient was 1.6 in Groups I and II. 2.9 in Group III and 4.0 in Group IV. The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction, defined using enzymatic and electrocardiographic criteria, was 8 percent for Group I, 26 percent for Group II, 25 percent for Group III and 52 percent for Group IV. Anginal relief after coronary bypass surgery is achieved by successful and complete revascularization rather than by perioperative myocardial infarction.     

Relief of angina pectoris in patients with occluded coronary bypass grafts.

Thirty-two patients from a larger series of subjects undergoing routine postoperative evaluation of the aortocoronary saphenous bypass graft procedure were found to have one (20 patients) or all (12 patients) of the implanted grafts totally occluded. Such occlusion occurred in association with persistent postoperative subjective improvement manifested by a significant diminution or complete disappearance of angina pectoris. Postoperative myocardial infarction was documented in only seven cases, and the possibility of successful partial revascularization could be logically applied to only 20 of these 32 patients. Other suggested mechanisms for relief of angina pectoris in this setting are mentioned, although none is scientifically proved. It is concluded that (1) the marked subjective improvement documented in this population does not universally correlate with anatomic success and that (2) a diminution in the degree of angina pectoris cannot be clinically applied as a reliable indicator of postoperative graft patency.     

Long-term serial angiographic studies after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Twenty-six patients underwent repeat coronary angiography 5--8 years after saphenous vein coronary artery bypass surgery (SVCABG). These patients were selected from the first cohort of 117 patient who had SVCABG because they had obtained essentially complete relief of angina, and because all grafts were patent at initial angiography 11.2 months (mean) after surgery. Of the 39 grafts (1.5 grafts per patient) patent at 1 year, 34 (87.2%) were patent at reexamination 76 months (mean) (range 65--103 months) after SVCABG. Graft occlusion could not be predicted by the early angiographic appearance of the graft itself or its proximal or distal anastomosis. In some cases, narrowing or irregularity consistent with intimal hyperplasia appeared to progress, while in others it developed at late follow-up. Progressive narrowing occurred in 96% (22 of 23 grafted vessels) of the native coronary arteries proximal to the graft anastomosis. Progresssion to a stenosis greater than 75% or total occlusion was seen distal to the graft anastomosis in eight of 39 grafts (20%). Of 103 non-bypassed major vessels, 56% showed some progression of disease and half of these progressed to significant stenoses (greater than 75% luminal narrowing). There were no apparent predictors to indicate whether progression in nongrafted coronary arteries would occur preferentially in a previously stenotic or nonstenotic vessel, although 80% of vessels with initial stenoses greater than 75% progressed to total occlusion.     

Enhanced external counterpulsation as initial revascularization treatment for angina refractory to medical therapy

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is effective in patients with angina refractory to medical therapy or revascularization. However, as a noninvasive treatment it should perhaps be considered the first-line treatment with invasive revascularization reserved for EECP failures or high-risk patients. The International EECP Patient Registry was used to analyze a cohort of patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and/or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (n = 4,454) compared with a group of patients (PUMPERS) who were candidates for PCI and/or CABG and chose EECP as their initial revascularization treatment (n = 215). The PUMPERS responded to treatment with EECP with decreased anginal episodes and nitroglycerin use and with improvement in their Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class, similarly to previously revascularized patients. Treatment with EECP resulted in sustained, and often progressive, reduction in angina over the succeeding 6 months. Given the findings of this study, it is interesting to speculate on the possibility of using EECP as the primary revascularization intervention after medical therapy proves unsatisfactory.     

Multiple extensive coronary artery stenting: does it compromise future surgical revascularization?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In the era of percutaneous coronary intervention, surgeons are confronted with performing coronary artery bypass graft surgery on patients with previous balloon dilatation or stenting. This review evaluates the impact of previous percutaneous coronary intervention on patient survival and choice of optimal myocardial revascularization technique. RECENT FINDINGS: Aggressive atherosclerosis has been remarked in patients complicated with intrastent stenosis. Moreover, bypass grafting with venous grafts has shown an extremely high incidence of graft failure in the restenosis population due to limited nitric oxide (a natural vasodilator) production of venous grafts. The challenge is to achieve complete revascularization in an unfavourable setting (greater co-morbidities, complex coronary lesions) with a greater risk of graft occlusion. SUMMARY: The internal thoracic artery is the optimal graft for myocardial revascularization in patients with and without previous in-stent restenosis. Coronary artery reconstruction by exclusive internal thoracic artery grafting gives superior patency rates and clinical outcomes. It is the most appropriate approach for myocardial revascularization in these patients.