title: Early vasoreactive profile of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No data are available on the early vasoreactive profile of skeletonized internal thoracic artery grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients undergoing primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly assigned to receive a skeletonized or pedicled internal thoracic artery graft. On the second postoperative day all patients were subjected to follow-up angiography and endovascular infusion of serotonin, acetylcholine, and isosorbide dinitrate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal thoracic artery grafts were widely patent in all cases. Mean diameters of the internal thoracic artery were 1.95 +/- 0.17 mm in the pedicled group and 2.26 +/- 0.40 mm in the skeletonized group. After serotonin challenge, mean internal thoracic artery diameters were reduced to 1.44 +/- 0.34 mm and 1.64 +/- 0.14 mm, respectively; acetylcholine challenge lead to a moderate degree of vasoconstriction (1.55 +/- 0.59 mm in the pedicled group and 1.84 +/- 0.15 mm in the skeletonized group). No statistically significant difference was evident between the two groups at any step.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skeletonization does not affect the early vasoreactive profile of internal thoracic artery grafts used for surgical myocardial revascularization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mgaudino@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trani
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Glieca
authors.forename: Mario Attilio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mazzari
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rigattieri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nasso
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alessandrini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schiavoni
authors.forename: Gianfederico
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Possati
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004210:Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000379:methods*; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; D000109:Acetylcholine