LACK OF EVIDENCE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN INTERNAL MAMMARY GRAFT FLOW BY OCCLUSION OF SIDE BRANCH

Coronary steal due to unligated side branches of an internal mammary a rtery graft has been reported previously [1-3]. Embolization of these side branches has been shown to result in symptomatic improvement, but objective evidence of improved flow to the coronary artery has been l acking. We studied intracoronary Doppler flow in a patient presenting with symptoms thought to be due to a large unligated side branch of ma mmary graft. There was no significant change in the mammary flow after balloon occlusion of the side branch. More objective data may be requ ired to routinely prescribe side branch embolization for symptomatic p atients with unligated side branches of a mammary graft. (C) 1997 Wile y-Liss, Inc.