Internal Thoracic Artery (internal + thoracic_artery)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Comparison of Vasoactive Response of Left and Right Internal Thoracic Arteries to Isosorbide-Dinitrate and Nitroglycerin:

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 4 2003
An In Vitro Study
Its distal region is, however, prone to vasospasm. We studied the effects of nitroglycerin (NTG) and isosorbide-dinitrate (DSDN) on distal segments of left versus right ITA. Methods: Rings of distal segments (6 to 9 mm proximal to bifurcation) of the human left and right ITA were studied. After baseline contraction of the rings, achieved using 60 mmol/L of KCl, they were exposed to increasing doses of ISDN and NTG (10 to 100 ,g/ml), and dose-response curves were recorded. Results: The contractile response of left ITA rings to KCl were significantly lower than those of right ITA rings (1.87 ± 0.25 g versus 3.5 ± 0.61 g, p < 0.005). Both nitrates inhibited the contractile response in a concentration-dependent manner, with relaxing effects of ISDN higher than those of NTG (p < 0.01) in both left and right ITA rings. Conclusions: The distal segment of the left ITA is less prone to vasospasm than that of the right. ISDN has a considerably higher relaxant effect on this segment than NTG. We therefore recommend favoring high doses of ISDN over NTG as an antispastic measure. (J Card Surg 2003; 18:279-285) [source]


Superior Flow Pattern of Internal Thoracic Artery over Saphenous Vein Grafts during OPCAB Procedures

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 1 2009
Alberto Weber
Methods: Serial intraoperative flow measurements were carried out in 306 consecutive patients (mean age 64 years, mean Euroscore 5.1) undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). The LAD was grafted in 302 patients [293 ITA (97%), 9 SV], the Cx in 252 patients [117 ITA (46%), 135 SV], and the RCA in 260 patients [36 ITA (14%), 224 SV]. Results: Averages of 3.7 ± 1.0 distal anastomoses/patient were constructed. Mean pulsatile index (PI) was significantly better for the single ITA/Cx-grafts (2.8 ± 1.9, n = 92) than for the single SV/Cx-grafts (3.3 ± 1.7, n = 43, p < 0.05), whereas the mean flow did not differ (28 ± 22 and 31 ± 25 mL/min respectively, p = ns). Accordingly, the mean PI was significantly better for the single ITA/RCA-grafts (2.2 ± 1.2, n = 36) than for the single SV/RCA-grafts (3.4 ± 2.6, n = 178, p < 0.01), whereas the mean flow did not differ (30 ± 16 and 32 ± 22 mL/min respectively, p = ns). The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction tended to be lower in patients receiving an ITA to either the Cx or the RCA than in those receiving a SV, but the difference did not reach statistical significance [2/92 of ITA/Cx (2.2%) vs. 2/43 of SV/Cx (4.6%), 1/36 of ITA/RCA (2.8%) vs. 8/178 of SV/RCA (4.5%)]. Conclusion: The internal thoracic artery provides superior flow properties than the SV to the Cx and RCA regions with reduced perioperative ischemia. Whether this advantage persists after adjusting for the grade of the proximal coronary stenosis needs further studies. [source]


Limitations of Right Internal Thoracic Artery to Left Anterior Descending Artery Bypass: A Comparative Quantitative Study of Postoperative Angiography of the Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Bypass Grafts

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 4 2008
Mizuho Imamaki M.D.
Methods: The 111 subjects underwent graft angiography after bypass grafting of the left or right internal thoracic artery (ITA) to the LAD. The vascular caliber was measured at the origin of the ITA, at an ITA site adjacent to the anastomotic site, and at an LAD site immediately below the anastomotic site, regarding the outer diameter of the catheter as a reference. Results: The caliber of the ITA immediately above the anastomotic site of the LAD was significantly lower in the RITA group. In the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) group, no patient showed a caliber of less than 1.25 mm, but five patients (7.8%) did in the RITA group. The preoperative cardio-thoracic ratio was significantly higher than that in patients in whom the caliber of the ITA immediately above the anastomotic site was 1.25 mm or more, and the height was significantly lower. Conclusions: In many patients, the RITA is appropriate as a graft material to the LAD. However, in patients with a high cardio-thoracic ratio and those with a low height, the RITA may not reach the LAD in a favorable state, and the LITA should be anastomosed to the LAD in some patients. [source]


A New Technique for the Old Arterial Graft: Internal Thoracic Artery

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2 2008
Ufuk Tutun M.D.
It stays patent well in the long-term period, and this evidence is directly related to the superior later outcome in terms of longevity. Coronary artery bypass grafting with multiarterial grafts can be performed safely, and better long-term result can be expected with the use of arterial conduits, especially ITA. We describe a simple and practical technique for the left ITA grafting by dividing the ITA graft and using its proximal and distal parts in situ for the distal left anterior descending (LAD) artery and the obtuse marginal artery grafting. [source]


Novel Use of a Magnetic Coupling Device to Repair Damage of the Internal Thoracic Artery

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 1 2006
Alexandros Charitou M.D., F.R.C.S.
The device has been primarily used to perform distal coronary anastomoses. We report for the first time the novel use of this magnetic coupling device as a technique to repair iatrogenic injury of the left internal thoracic artery conduit. Technical issues, advantages, disadvantages, and the use of computer tomography angiogram for assessment of the anastomosis are discussed. [source]


Free Right Internal Thoracic Artery in a "Horseshoe" Configuration: A New Technical Approach for "In Situ" Conduit Lengthening

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 6 2005
Jacob Zeitani M.D.
We present a method to revascularize the left antero-lateral myocardial wall using the right internal thoracic artery as a "free graft" anastomosed side to end to the "in situ" left internal thoracic artery, in a "horseshoe" fashion. The two ends of the "free graft" were anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery and the second obtuse marginal branch, respectively. This method was successfully used in a 74-year-old patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [source]


Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Versus Percutaneous Coronary Artery Intervention in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis: Does a Drug-Eluting Stent Have an Impact on Clinical Outcome?

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 3 2009
Susumu Manabe M.D.
For chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, however, the impact of DES on clinical outcome is yet to be determined. Forty-six consecutive chronic HD patients who underwent myocardial revascularization in our institute were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-eight patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and 18 patients underwent percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI). Patient characteristics were similar between the two groups. In the CABG group, bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) bypass grafting was performed in 27 patients and off-pump CABG was performed in 20 patients. In the PCI group, a DES was used in 12 patients. The number of coronary vessels treated per patient was higher in the CABG group (CABG: 4.25 ± 1.32 vs. PCI: 1.44 ± 0.78; p < 0.001). Two-year survival rates were similar between the two groups (CABG: 94.1% vs. PCI: 73.9%; p = 0.41), but major adverse cardiac event-free survival (CABG: 85.9% vs. PCI: 37.1%; p = 0.001) and angina-free survival (CABG: 84.9% vs. PCI: 28.9%; p < 0.001) rates were significantly higher in the CABG group. The one-year patency rate for the CABG grafts was 93.3% (left ITA: 100%, right ITA: 84.6%, sapenous vein: 90.9%, gastro-epiploic artery: 100%), and six-month restenosis rate for PCI was 57.1% (balloon angio-plasty: 75%, bare metal stent 40%, DES: 58.3%). Even in the era of DES, clinical results favored CABG. The difference in clinical results is due to the sustainability of successful revascularization. [source]


Limitations of Right Internal Thoracic Artery to Left Anterior Descending Artery Bypass: A Comparative Quantitative Study of Postoperative Angiography of the Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Bypass Grafts

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 4 2008
Mizuho Imamaki M.D.
Methods: The 111 subjects underwent graft angiography after bypass grafting of the left or right internal thoracic artery (ITA) to the LAD. The vascular caliber was measured at the origin of the ITA, at an ITA site adjacent to the anastomotic site, and at an LAD site immediately below the anastomotic site, regarding the outer diameter of the catheter as a reference. Results: The caliber of the ITA immediately above the anastomotic site of the LAD was significantly lower in the RITA group. In the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) group, no patient showed a caliber of less than 1.25 mm, but five patients (7.8%) did in the RITA group. The preoperative cardio-thoracic ratio was significantly higher than that in patients in whom the caliber of the ITA immediately above the anastomotic site was 1.25 mm or more, and the height was significantly lower. Conclusions: In many patients, the RITA is appropriate as a graft material to the LAD. However, in patients with a high cardio-thoracic ratio and those with a low height, the RITA may not reach the LAD in a favorable state, and the LITA should be anastomosed to the LAD in some patients. [source]


The Right Gastroepiploic Artery in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 4 2008
Hideki Sasaki M.D.
Although some reports presenting good results justify its use in clinical settings, there is still much concern about using the RGEA in bypass surgery. The RGEA demonstrates different behaviors from the internal thoracic artery (ITA) in bypass surgery due to its histological characteristics and anatomical difference, which might contribute to the long-term outcome. Now that left ITA (LITA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) is the gold standard, other grafts are expected to cover the rest of the coronary arteries. It should be elucidated how we can use other grafts and what we can expect from them. RGEA, as an arterial graft, can be used as an in situ graft or a free graft. The RGEA is mainly used to graft to the right coronary artery (RCA) because of its anatomical position, and its patency is not inferior to that of the saphenous vein (SVG). The RGEA can cover the lateral walls when its length is long enough or by making a composite graft with other grafts. However, when used to graft to the LAD, its mid-term patency is not favorable. [source]


Midterm Results of Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in 136 Patients: An Angiographic Control Study

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 1 2006
Hakki Kazaz M.D.
This study summarizes the midterm results of 136 off-pump bypass surgery patients. Methods: Between January 2000 and March 2002, out of 178 surgical myocardial revascularizations, 136 (76.4%) were off-pump bypass surgery. Complete revascularization was done and especially arterial grafts were used. All patients were followed clinically and with treadmill test for 2 years. Average control angiography was performed at the end of 2-year follow-up. Results: Of all the patients, 56.7% were male and the mean age of the patients was 63.6 ± 7.4 years. A total of 481 anastomoses were performed,136 (28.27%) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), 135 (28.07%) to the circumflex coronary artery (Cx) branches, 102 (21.20%) to the right coronary artery (RCA), 108 (22.46%) to the D,. The mean graft number was 3.46. We used 96.6% of patients' left internal mammarian artery (LITA), 29.2% radial artery (RA), 4.4% right internal thoracic artery (RITA), and 100% saphenous vein. There were ischemic changes within 12 patients. All ischemic changes came back to normal within 4 and 18 hours, postoperatively. Mean extubation time was 5.36 ± 2.23 hours, mean stay in intensive care unit was 17.53 ± 3.15 hours, mean hospital stay was 5.03 ± 1.29 days. The LITA patency was 99.25%, RA patency was 97.84%, RITA patency was 100%, and saphenous vein patency was 91.79% with control angiography. Conclusion: Off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is efficient procedure with lower index of mortality, morbidity, ICU stay, hospital stay, good wound healing, early socialization, and results in lower costs. [source]


Free Right Internal Thoracic Artery in a "Horseshoe" Configuration: A New Technical Approach for "In Situ" Conduit Lengthening

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 6 2005
Jacob Zeitani M.D.
We present a method to revascularize the left antero-lateral myocardial wall using the right internal thoracic artery as a "free graft" anastomosed side to end to the "in situ" left internal thoracic artery, in a "horseshoe" fashion. The two ends of the "free graft" were anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery and the second obtuse marginal branch, respectively. This method was successfully used in a 74-year-old patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [source]


Can the Use of the Radial Artery Be Expanded to All Patients with Different Surgical Grafting Techniques?

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 1 2005
Angiographic Results in 600 Patients, Early Clinical
Encouraged by our satisfactory early experience with the use of the RA conduit, we have expanded its use to more than 90% of all coronary surgery patients. The aim of the present study was to review our clinical and angiographic results when the use of the RA conduit was expanded to all patients including those aged 65 years and older and diabetics with different surgical grafting techniques. Methods: The records of 600 consecutive patients who underwent isolated CABG using the RA graft at Harefield Hospital between January 1999 and August 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Ninety-three (15.5%) patients consented and underwent angiography before discharge at the earliest on the fourth postoperative day, aiming to look at the quality of anastomoses and the patency of the RA grafts. Results: The 600 patients had 613 RA grafts to perform 652 distal RA anastomoses. The proximal ends of 515 (84%) RA grafts were anastomosed to the aorta, 98 (16%) RA grafts were constructed as Y-grafts with 49 (8%) RA off a vein graft hood, and 49 (8%) RA grafts were constructed as T- or Y-grafts off an internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft. The proximal ends of 19 (19/294 or 6.5%) vein grafts were constructed as Y-grafts off the RA grafts. Two hundred and sixty-one (43.5%) patients were above the age of 65 years and 111 (18.5%) patients were diabetics. There were four in-hospital deaths (0.6%) among the study patients. Six (1%) patients developed forearm hematoma/seroma postoperatively. The operation time, the hospital stay, and the incidence of conduit harvest site infection for the patients who had vein grafts in addition to the RA grafts were significantly higher than those of patients who had RA grafts only. On postoperative angiography, 86 out of 93 (92.5%) RA grafts were found to be patent with good quality distal anastomoses. The maximum stenosis of the coronary arteries bypassed by the patent 86 RA grafts was 82.6 ± 6.2%, while it was 56.3 ± 15.4% for the coronary arteries bypassed by the occluded seven RA grafts, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The use of the RA can be expanded to all patients with different surgical grafting techniques and provides satisfactory clinical and angiographic outcomes. [source]


Cardiac tamponade caused by spontaneous rupture of mediastinal lymph node metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2001
Shuichi Seki
Abstract Rupture of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a well-known cause of death in patients with HCC. This report describes a rare case of HCC presenting as cardiac tamponade caused by a spontaneous rupture of mediastinal lymph node metastasis into the pericardial space. A transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of internal thoracic artery successfully controlled the bleeding, and the patient was rescued from cardiac tamponade. Although there was no rebleeding, the patient died from liver failure 2 months later. An autopsy revealed a poorly differentiated HCC in the liver, lung and mediastinal lymph nodes. [source]


Robotic Skeletonized Internal Thoracic Artery Harvesting: The Sliding Fascia Technique

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 6 2010
Norihiko Ishikawa
Abstract Robotic skeletonizing and harvesting of the internal thoracic artery, using the da Vinci surgical system, has a number of advantages over robotic pediculed ITA harvesting. The advantages include greater blood flow, a longer conduit, and less bleeding. The technique is facilitated by use of the EndoWrist spatula cautery and fine tissue forceps (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA). How the technique is performed is described in this report. [source]