Ultrasonography study of the mammary-coronary bypass

The authors present the case of a 49-year-old female patient who was admitted with the diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease and the syndrome of angina pectoris grade IV for selective coronarography. For assessment of the affection of one artery, significant stenosis of the insertion of the ramus interventricularis anterior the authors indicated a bypass of the left mammary artery to the ramus interventricularis anterior. During the postoperative course the patient did not have any anginous symptoms or any other clinical signs suggesting ischaemia or necrosis of the heart muscle. During the ultrasonographic check-up examination of the mammarocoronary bypass the suspicion of occlusion of the graft was expressed and this was confirmed on angiography. An angiographically successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of occlusion of the bypass was made. During the subsequent ultrasonographic examination the authors suspected again graft occlusion and angiography confirmed a 90% stenosis. Therefore the patient was re-operated. It appears that ultrasonographic examination of the mammacoronary bypass may prove useful in the diagnosis of occlusion or critical stenosis of a graft.