title: Total arterial revascularization: A superior method of cardiac revascularization.
abstract: For over 40 years, the left internal thoracic artery has been used as the gold standard for myocardial revascularization and anastomosis over the left anterior descending artery due to its excellent patency rates. However, the right internal thoracic artery behaves in the same manner as the left, also having excellent long-term patency. Hence, no patient should be deprived of the benefits of total arterial revascularization allowed by the bilateral use of both internal thoracic arteries.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, General Hospital of Athens "Evangelismos", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: nikppk@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Nikolaos A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, General Hospital of Athens "Evangelismos", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Baikoussis
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: coronary artery bypass surgery; graft patency; myocardial revascularization; thoracic/mammary arteries