title: Effects of ultrasonic skeletonization on internal thoracic and gastroepiploic arteries for coronary artery bypass grafting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are few data available on the effect of ultrasonic skeletonization with the harmonic scalpel on internal thoracic artery (ITA) and gastroepiploic artery (GEA) vessel function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rings of segments of the skeletonized ITA, pedicled ITA, skeletonized GEA, and pedicled GEA were studied. Arterial segments were treated with high KCl and norepinephrine (NE) to obtain smooth muscle contractions. Endothelium-dependent and independent vasorelaxant potencies in 10(-6)mol/l NE-pre-constricted arteries were assessed by acetylcholine (ACh), and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) and diltiazem, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in contractile potencies induced by high KCl and NE between the rings cut from skeletonized and pedicled grafts. The rings from skeletonized and pedicled vessels also showed equal sensitivity to ISDN and diltiazem. However, the rings from pedicled grafts showed greater relaxation responses to ACh than rings from skeletonized grafts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonic complete skeletonization with the harmonic scalpel may retain smooth muscle function of skeletonized grafts, whereas endothelial function of ultrasonic skeletonized grafts may be significantly compromised.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan. kazuhisa@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsuneyoshi
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iguro
authors.forename: Tamahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: Goichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yotsumoto
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanmura
authors.forename: Ryuzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakata
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D004110:Diltiazem; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D024405:Gastroepiploic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019737:Transplants; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004110:Diltiazem; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; D000109:Acetylcholine