title: SIGNIFICANCE OF ANGIOGRAPHIC ABSENCE OF LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY IN A LEFT VENTRICLE WITH INTACT ANTERIOR WALL.
abstract: Fifteen patients having total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery were studied. All fifteen had normal left ventricular anterior walls. The electrocardiogram was normal in eight patients; old inferior wall infarction was evident in one; anterior ischemia in five; and left anterior hemiblock in one. Collateral circulation was found in twelve patients (80%). These findings suggest that an angiographically non-visualized left anterior descending (LAD) vessel is patent and bypassable in patients where the anterior ventricular wall is intact, thus representing an additional criterion for aortocoronary bypass surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tucson Medical Center, and St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Adib H.
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sabbagh
authors.forename: Lee I.
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Schocket
authors.forename: Richard L.
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dexter
authors.forename: Jose J.
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: James E.
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: O'Hare