[Assessment of left internal thoracic artery anastomosis with left anterior descending coronary artery by Doppler echocardiography].
OBJECTIVE
To study the value of Doppler echocardiography as a tool for the evaluation of left internal thoracic artery graft (LITAG) patency in patients who underwent coronary revascularization using minimally invasive bypass surgery without extracorporeal circulation.


METHODS
The first 12 consecutive patients were studied after coronary artery bypass surgery using a 5 MHz Doppler transducer. Doppler signals for the systolic and diastolic flow velocities were preferably obtained in the second intercostal space. All patients underwent coronary angiography while hospitalized.


RESULTS
The exam was feasible in 93% of patients. Doppler flow pattern was predominantly diastolic (pattern A) in patients with patent anastomoses (6/7). In patients with occluded anastomoses (4/4) Doppler flow pattern was predominantly systolic (pattern B) (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Internal thoracic artery flow pattern as measured by Doppler echocardiography after minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft surgery is an accurate method for identifying LITAG patency.
Arruda
A
A
Escola Paulista de Medicina-UNIFESP.
Campos Filho
O
O
Ribeiro
E
E
Petrizzo
A
A
Andrade
J L
JL
Carvalho
A C
AC
Buffolo
E
E
Martinez
E
E
Mathias Júnior
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*
Avaliação da anastomose de artéria torácica interna esquerda com artéria interventricular anterior pela ecodopplercardiografia.