title: Is the visual examination of LIMA graft sufficient for the decision reusing of this graft in redo coronary bypass surgery?
abstract: Redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compromises a growing proportion of CABG in the current era of revascularization. Intimal hyperplasia at the site of anastomosis between left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and left anterior descending artery (LAD) is not infrequently reported causing severe ischemic symptoms in some patients. An additional grafting to distal LAD territory is a proper decision for the surgical strategy in most of the cases. Radial artery or venous grafts have been used for this purpose. Shortage of arterial grafts is the major concern in redo coronary surgery. Whether the previously anastomosed LIMA can be used is a major question in decision-making process. In this case report, we presented a complicated patient in whom LIMA was not reused although visual or angiographical examination was normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, GATA Military Medical Faculty, Etik, Ankara, Turkey. nkucukarslan@gata.edu.tr
authors.forename: Nezihi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kucukarslan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuralay
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tatar
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*