In favor of the Y-graft for aortocoronary bypass.
The technique of multiple coronary artery bypass grafting has included separate conduits, snake grafts, and Y-grafts. Against the Y-graft have been reports of lesser patency and several theoretical objections. The theory is discussed and a laboratory model presented which demonstrates a flow difference of 2 ml/5 sec or less between Y-grafts and single grafts. In conjunction with this, 171 patients having aortocoronary bypass were analyzed and showed a combined one-year graft patency of 77% with no significant difference between single grafts and Y-grafts. It is concluded that the technical simplicity of Y-grafts is advantageous and that, if the operation is performed within the guidelines set forth, revascularization with Y-grafts is an acceptable method.
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*