title: Semiskeletonization of internal thoracic artery: alternative harvest technique.
abstract: A simple technique of harvesting the internal thoracic artery is described. Harvesting the internal thoracic artery as a thin pedicle without the endothoracic fascia is advantageous in terms of obtaining its maximum length, dissecting a narrow space, avoiding pleural opening, and facilitating handling of the internal thoracic artery during the coronary anastomoses. This alternative-technique requires almost the same skill and time as the conventional wide pedicle technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kamakura, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horii
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suma
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000379:methods; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000637:transplantation*