Off-pump total left anterior descending area re-vascularisation using left internal thoracic artery auto Y graft; angiographic early and 3-year follow-up results.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the efficacy of a well-prepared left internal thoracic artery (LITA) auto Y graft for simultaneous left anterior descending artery (LAD) and diagonal artery (DA) re-vascularisation in selected patients for the reduction of the number of required grafts and improved graft patency, while limiting technical problems.


METHODS
Twenty well-controlled diabetic patients, mean age 62.8+/-8.3, 17 males and three females, underwent isolated elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using the LITA auto Y graft from July 2003 to August 2004.


RESULTS
In-hospital data and angiographic results at 6 months after the surgery showed that there was no early mortality, early graft failure and major morbidity except for two cases of superficial wound infection. The 3-year follow-up results including angiographic findings (mean of 37+/-3.3-month follow-up) demonstrated that all patients are alive and have excellent graft patency in both the LAD and DA. Only two cases required right coronary artery (RCA) stenting during the follow-up period. Compared with our previous routine LITA composite Y graft technique, it is assumed that LITA auto Y graft technique may reduce the number of mobilised conduits or avoided sequential anastomosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This small study showed that our technique is technically feasible and may be safely performed to the selective patients. The LITA auto Y graft might be an additional surgical option, in terms of not only preserving the other grafts and maintaining patency in the LAD area bypass, but also preventing the need for sequential anastomoses.
Yie
Kilsoo
K
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Clinical Research Institute of Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, South Korea. elpucco@kangwon.ac.kr
Kim
Si-Ho
SH
Bang
Jung-Hee
JH
Woo
Jong-Soo
JS
Na
Chan-Young
CY
Oh
Sam-Sae
SS
D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump / Q000379:methods*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency