Early vasoreactive profile of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery grafts.

Abstract

No data are available on the early vasoreactive profile of skeletonized internal thoracic artery grafts. Fifteen patients undergoing primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly assigned to receive a skeletonized or pedicled internal thoracic artery graft. On the second postoperative day all patients were subjected to follow-up angiography and endovascular infusion of serotonin, acetylcholine, and isosorbide dinitrate. Internal thoracic artery grafts were widely patent in all cases. Mean diameters of the internal thoracic artery were 1.95 +/- 0.17 mm in the pedicled group and 2.26 +/- 0.40 mm in the skeletonized group. After serotonin challenge, mean internal thoracic artery diameters were reduced to 1.44 +/- 0.34 mm and 1.64 +/- 0.14 mm, respectively; acetylcholine challenge lead to a moderate degree of vasoconstriction (1.55 +/- 0.59 mm in the pedicled group and 1.84 +/- 0.15 mm in the skeletonized group). No statistically significant difference was evident between the two groups at any step. Skeletonization does not affect the early vasoreactive profile of internal thoracic artery grafts used for surgical myocardial revascularization.