title: Arterial conduits update.
abstract: Arterial grafting for coronary artery disease has been practiced routinely at the Epworth Hospital for 20 years. Bilateral versus single internal thoracic artery grafts is associated with improved survival, which progressively increased over the 20 years of post-surgery. The average increase in survival was 15% at 20 years. The question of whether to use the radial artery or the saphenous vein graft as supplementary grafts remains unanswered. Current patency data suggest that there is a marginal advantage of radial artery over saphenous graft patency, particularly between 5 and 10 years after surgery. However, there appears to be improved patency of the saphenous vein when used as a coronary artery bypass with the advent of aspirin, lipid-lowering and anti-hypertensive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Austin Hospital, Studley Road, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. Brian.Buxton@austin.org.au
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buxton
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tatoulis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuller
mesh_terms: D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D024405:Gastroepiploic Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014654:Vascular Patency