title: Segmentation of the left internal thoracic artery: a new technique for maximal arterial grafting.
abstract: The left internal thoracic artery lpa r;LITA) is the preferred graft with the best patency rate in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). To maximize its use, we developed a technique of grafting 2 distant coronary arteries with the LITA, using its distal portion segmented to construct a Y graft with either the in situ LITA or right internal thoracic artery (RITA). We applied this technique in 51 patients. The distal segment of the LITA was used to create a Y graft in 4 different configurations according to coronary pathology. Offpump grafting was performed in 11% of cases. The use of a distal segment of the LITA was thus extended not only to the left anterior descending artery and branches but also to the circumflex and right coronary artery territories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Centre Cardiologique du Nord, St Denis, France.
authors.forename: Ramzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: Nawwar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al Attar
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raffoul
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nataf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods