INITIAL CLINICAL-RESULTS OF MYOCARDIAL REVASCULARIZATION WITH THE INTERNAL MAMMARY ARTERY FOR EVOLVING MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

In 25 patients undergoing emergency revascularization for an evolving myocardial infarction, the internal mammary artery (IMA) was used as g raft. To bridge the time needed for harvesting the IMA, the left ventr icle was totally decompressed by means of the extracorporeal circulati on. Cardioplegia was delivered retrogradely, in order to achieve a goo d distribution in the jeopardized area. One patient died postoperative ly, and eight patients showed a postoperative myocardial infarction. T hese initial results suggest that, with an adapted operative strategy, the IMA can be used as graft even in emergency revascularization.