Epicardial coronary artery imaging.
Intraoperative high-frequency echocardiography with a 12-MHz linear scanner is a diagnostic tool for imaging coronary morphology. This method was used in 630 vascular sections in 112 operations. The vessel diameter (80%), the absence of stenoses (77%), the condition of the vessel wall (39%), and the localization of occlusions (14%) were examined.  Fifty vessels not visible to the eye (8%) could be echocardiographically imaged.  Anastomoses were examined 45 times (7%).  By using high-frequency echocardiography, intraoperative decisions could be acted upon immediately in 46 operations (41%).
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
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Isringhaus
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period