title: Effect of skeletonization of the internal thoracic artery on vessel wall integrity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conceived to evaluate the effect of internal thoracic artery (ITA) skeletonization on vessel wall integrity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass were randomized to receive a skeletonized (n = 22) or a pedicled (n = 18) ITA graft. ITA harvesting was performed by 2 experienced surgeons using the same instrumentation and technique. Specimens were examined by light and electron microscope in order to assess vascular wall integrity. A specific immunohistochemical staining and a computerized method were used to quantify the degree of endothelial integrity after surgical preparation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphologic analysis revealed 2 cases of limited subadventitial hemorrhage (one for each group) and no case of major arterial damage. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated an extremely high degree of maintenance of the endothelial integrity in both groups (97.2% +/- 1.9% in the skeletonized and 96.8% +/- 2.1% in the pedicled one; p = 0.53).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skeletonization does not affect ITA wall integrity in humans submitted to coronary artery bypass procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mgaudino@pelagus.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toesca
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nori
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Glieca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Possati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology