IntroductionWe evaluated with transit time flow the performance of the right and left thoracic
arteries when used as a graft for the left anterior descending artery.MethodsFifty patients undergoing surgery for myocardial revascularization without
cardiopulmonary bypass were divided into two groups. In group A patients received
graft of right internal mammary artery to the anterior interventricular branch. In
group B patients received graft of left internal mammary artery to the same
branch. At the end of the operation the flow was assessed by measuring transit
time.ResultsIn group A, mean age was 60.6±9.49 years. The average height and weight of the
group was 80.4±10.32 kg and 169.2±6.86 cm. The average number of grafts per
patient in this group was 3.28±1.49. The mean flow and distal resistance obtained
in right internal thoracic artery was 42.1±23.4 ml/min and 2.8±0.9 respectively.
In group B, the mean age was 59.8±9.7 years. The average height and weight of this
group was 77.7±14.22 kg and 166.0±8.2 cm. The average number of grafts per patient
in this group was 3.08 ±0.82. The mean flow and distal resistance observed in this
group was 34.2±19.1 ml/min and 2.0±0.7. There were no deaths in this series.ConclusionRight internal mammary artery presented a similar behavior to left internal
mammary artery when anastomosed to the anterior interventricular branch of the
left coronary artery. There was no statistical difference between the measured
flow obtained between both arteries.