Ultrasound evaluation of vascular graft-related parameters before and
after in situ left internal mammary artery bypass
Abstract
Background: Ultrasound is frequently used to assess the function of
heart and blood vessels. Here, we used ultrasound to evaluate the
changes in vascular-graft-related parameters in patients with coronary
heart disease before and after in situ left internal mammary artery
(IMA) graft and assessed factors affecting blood flow in the graft.
Methods: We collected data on 60 patients who underwent coronary artery
bypass grafting (CABG) under the same surgeon. All ultrasonic parameters
of IMA before and after CABG were measured using Philips EPIQ7
Ultrasound Machine. We then compared changes in all the parameters and
assessed factors affecting IMA blood flow. Results: Postoperative IMA
had wider luminal diameter than preoperative IMA, higher peak systolic
and peak diastolic velocities, reduced resistance index, and
significantly greater diastolic velocity-time integral and its fraction.
The IMA-left subclavian artery angle was negatively correlated with
intraoperative flow of vascular graft, and the blood flow of the graft
was significantly higher 1 week postoperatively than it had been during
the operation. Conclusions: In situ IMA bypass in CABG patients
increased vascular graft luminal diameter and flow, and the angle
between IMA and subclavian artery affected the postoperative flow of the
vascular graft.