The impact of ligation of proximal side branches on blood flow and functional status of the internal thoracic artery in coronary anastomosis. Issue 11 (2nd August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abreu, José Sebastião; Tsutsui, Jeane Mike; Falcão, Sandra Nívea R; Feitosa, José Acácio; Rocha, Eduardo Arraes; Oliveira, Ítalo Martins; Diógenes, Teresa Cristina; Paes, José N; Sbano, João C; Dallan, Luis A; Filho, Roberto Kalil; Mathias, Wilson
• Is Part Of: Echocardiography. Volume 33:Issue 11(2016)
• Page Start: 1656
• Page End: 1664
• Publication Date: 2016-08-02
• Subjects: coronary flow reserve -- Doppler echocardiography -- internal thoracic artery -- stress echocardiography; Echocardiography -- Periodicals; Echocardiography -- Periodicals; 616.1207543
• DOI: 10.1111/echo.13313
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-2822

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The effect of proximal side branches on the patency of the internal thoracic artery (ITA) is controversial. We used echocardiography and Doppler to verify the effect of ligation of branches on the flow and coronary flow reserve (CFR) of the grafted ITA in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: We prospectively investigated 53 patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF >50%) who underwent CABG of the ITA. In Group I (25 patients), major branches were ligated during ITA anastomosis to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, whereas no ligation was performed in Group II (28 patients). Systolic flow (SF), diastolic flow (DF), and total flow (TF = SF + DF) were measured by Doppler echocardiography at the proximal level of the ITA preoperatively, at early postoperative stage, and 6 months after surgery. Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was performed at 6 months to determine CFR. Results: The ITA flow was predominantly systolic before surgery and diastolic in the postoperative period. We found no differences between the groups in DF. On DSE, SF (19.5±9 mL/min vs 32.7±19 mL/min; P =.003) and TF (79±21 mL/min vs 101±47 mL/min; P =.037) were higher in Group II. There were no differences in CFR (1.9±0.46 vs 2.11±0.56; P =.143). Conclusion: In patients with preserved LVEF, ligation of major side branches during anastomosis to the LAD does not alter ITA flow or CFR.