Treatment of internal mammary artery malperfusion syndrome by additional venous graft: early postoperative angiographic results.
BACKGROUND
Internal mammary artery malperfusion syndrome is caused by an acute imbalance between myocardial demand and nutritional support through the mammary artery.


METHODS
We performed early angiography in 11 consecutive patients in whom the perioperative course suggested mammary artery malperfusion. All patients received an additional saphenous vein graft distally to the mammary artery anastomosis.


RESULTS
Postoperative angiography revealed patent mammary artery and vein graft in 10 patients (three with a markedly reduced caliber of the arterial graft).


CONCLUSIONS
Additional vein graft is the treatment of choice in mammary artery malperfusion syndrome; it does not lead to occlusion of the internal mammary artery.
Carrel
T
T
Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland.
Zünd
G
G
Schuiki
E
E
Amann
F W
FW
Turina
M
M
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors