Early vasoreactive profile of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery grafts.
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.
Gaudino
Mario
M
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mgaudino@tiscalinet.it
Trani
Carlo
C
Glieca
Franco
F
Mazzari
Mario Attilio
MA
Rigattieri
Stefano
S
Nasso
Giuseppe
G
Alessandrini
Francesco
F
Schiavoni
Giovanni
G
Possati
Gianfederico
G
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
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; D000109:Acetylcholine