Free flow capacity of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery grafts in coronary artery bypass grafts.

OBJECTIVE: The internal thoracic artery (ITA) is the ideal conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The skeletonization technique of this arterial conduit has been proposed to reduce chest wall trauma, increase graft length and facilitate construction of sequential anastomoses. Nevertheless, some surgeons decline this technique because of potentially increased trauma to the ITA with impairment of flow. In this investigation we compared the free flow of skeletonized with that of pedicled ITA grafts. METHODS: Two surgeons operated on 80 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease for elective CABG. In group I (n = 40), the left ITA was dissected using the skeletonization technique. In group II (n = 40), it was harvested as a pedicled graft. In 23 patients of group I both ITA's were dissected in skeletonized fashion for complete arterial revascularization. Diluted papaverine was instilled into the lumen of the ITA after distal transection of the vessel in both groups. Free flow of the ITA was registered before and 15 min after intraluminal application of diluted papaverine. Mean arterial pressure was maintained at 70 mmHg. RESULTS: Before the application of papaverine, free flow of skeletonized and pedicled ITA grafts was identical between the two groups. After treatment with papaverine maximum free flow was significantly higher in the skeletonized ITA's (group I 197.2 (+/-66.6) ml/min; group II 147.1 (+/-70.5) ml/min; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between free flow after dilatation of the left and right ITA in group I (left 197.2 (+/-66.6) ml/min; right 198.9 (+/-61.8) ml/min). CONCLUSIONS: Preparation of the ITA with the skeletonization technique results in significantly, higher free flow capacity than in pedicled grafts. This may increase the safety of arterial revascularization by reducing the risk of ITA hypoperfusion syndrome.