TREATMENT OF INTERNAL MAMMARY ARTERY MALPERFUSION SYNDROME BY ADDITIONAL VENOUS GRAFT - EARLY POSTOPERATIVE ANGIOGRAPHIC RESULTS

Background: Internal mammary artery malperfusion syndrome is caused by an acute imbalance between myocardial demand and nutritional support through the mammary artery. Methods: We performed early angiography in 11 consecutive patients in whom the perioperative course suggested ma mmary artery malperfusion. All patients received an additonal saphenou s vein graft distally to the mammary artery anastomosis. Results: Post operative angiography revealed patent mammary artery and vein graft in 10 patients (three with a markedly reduced caliber of the arterial gr aft). Conclusion: Additional vein graft is the treatment of choice in mammary artery malperfusion syndrome; it does not lead to occlusion of the internal mammary artery.