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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1986; 34(6): 356-358
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1022172
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Atherosclerosis of the Internal Mammary Artery, Histopathological Analysis and Implications on its Results in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

C. A. Mestres1 , A. Rives2 , A. Igual1 , C. Vehi1 , M. Murtra1
  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Centro Quirúrgico San Jorge, Barcelona, Spain
  • 2Department of Pathology, Hospital Clinico y Provincial, University of Barcelona, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

1986

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

To evaluate internal mammary artery (IMA) atherosclerosis in our population, 38 segments of IMA obtained at the time of coronary surgery and 20 segments of IMA obtained at postmortem studies were histologically studied. Hematoxilineosin, Masson trichromic, elastic fibers and reticulin fibers were the stain methods used. A total of 236 sections were studied. Atherosclerosis was graded from 0 to 4 according to Kay and co-workers. Severe disease, with more than 50% luminal narrowing was found in one necropsy case (5%) and in no surgical case. In the surgical group, only one case (2.36%) showed a degree 3 luminal narrowing (between 25% and 50% luminal reduction). The remaining sections were normal or minimally affected. It is concluded that the IMA shows minimal atherosclerotic changes, being considered a protected vessel.

Key words

Internal mammary artery - Atherosclerosis - Myocardial revascularization

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