SEMISKELETONIZATION OF INTERNAL THORACIC ARTERY - ALTERNATIVE HARVESTTECHNIQUE

A simple technique of harvesting the internal thoracic artery is descr ibed. Harvesting the internal thoracic artery as a thin pedicle withou t the endothoracic fascia is advantageous in terms of obtaining its ma ximum length, dissecting a narrow space, avoiding pleural opening, and facilitating handling of the internal thoracic artery during the coro nary anastomoses. This alternative technique requires almost the same skill and time as the conventional wide pedicle technique. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.