SYSTOLIC SEGMENTAL DISAPPEARANCE OF INTERNAL MAMMARY ARTERY GRAFT - CORRELATION WITH PROLONGED SPASM OF THE GRAFT

Vasospasm of the saphenous vein and internal mammary grafts may develo p spontaneously under several conditions. We present for the first tim e spasm of a left internal mammary artery bypass graft during coronary arteriography. A patient who underwent coronary artery bypass operati on 4 years ago was recatheterized because he developed chest pain. Sel ective catheterization of the left internal mammary artery graft showe d disappearance of its lumen at its distal part during systole, wherea s the patient developed angina. These phenomena disappeared after intr avenous nitroglycerin administration.