THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE INFERIOR EPIGASTRIC ARTERY HAS IMPLICATIONS ON ITS USE AS A CONDUIT FOR MYOCARDIAL REVASCULARIZATION

The inferior epigastric artery (IEA) is a new arterial graft for myoca rdial revascularization. We examined the inferior epigastric artery, t he internal thoracic artery (ITA) and representative sections of the c oronary arteries in 45 postmortem examinations, for microscopic signs of atherosclerosis. In addition, a morphometric evaluation of the inti ma and media of both conduits was performed. The intima of the ITA is significantly thicker, but atherosclerosis is absent. There are fewer fenestrations/mm in the internal elastic lamina (IEL) (4.00 +/- 1.60 v ersus 4.62 +/- 1.46) of the IEA and the combined thickness of media an d intima is lower (0.20 +/- 0.04 mm versus 0.30 +/- 0.06 mm). However, 24% of IEAs showed medial calcification of variable degrees. We concl ude that the IEA should not be used routinely for myocardial revascula rization until the long-term patency of this graft has been explored.