title: Anatomical and functional assessment of single left internal mammary artery versus arterial T-grafts 12 years after surgery.
abstract: We determined whether ultrasonographic left internal mammary artery (LIMA) findings correspond with 64 multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients 12 years after coronary artery bypass grafting. We included 34 patients (63.2+/-9.2 years), 16 with conventional single LIMA (group I) and 18 arterial T-grafts (group II), in a cross-sectional study. Patients underwent transthoracic proximal LIMA ultrasonography at rest and during the Azoulay maneuver, transthoracic echocardiography of the left ventricle and 64-MSCT, 11.5+/-1.4 years postoperatively. MSCT scans showed three string sign LIMA grafts (19%) in group I and three distal string sign LIMA grafts (17%) and 16 occluded T-graft anastomoses (22%) in group II. LIMA diameters and areas are significantly larger in group II in the origin, 3.5+/-0.7 vs. 2.5+/-0.5 mm, P=0.00007 and 0.09+/-0.04 vs. 0.05+/-0.02 cm(2), P=0.00019 and in the third intercostal space, 3.4+/-0.7 vs. 2.5+/-0.5 mm, P=0.00009 and 0.09+/-0.03 vs. 0.05+/-0.02 cm(2), P=0.000047. Most ultrasonographic LIMA findings do not differ between the groups. Thus, proximal LIMA diameters and areas are significantly larger in T-grafts and ultrasonographic variables equalize between the groups at rest and during the Azoulay maneuver 12 years after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Thoraxcentre, Bd 575, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Bob W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Meijboom
authors.forename: Tjebbe W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Galema
authors.forename: Johanna J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Takkenberg
authors.forename: Anne-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schets
authors.forename: Pim J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: de Feyter
authors.forename: Ad J J C
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bogers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome