INTRAOPERATIVE EVALUATION OF CORONARY-BYPASS GRAFTS PATENCY

Patency of coronary by-pass grafts is a challenge for the surgeon in o rder to reduce fraft obstructions due to technical reasons. We analyze different published methods and show our experience with 1,010 corona ry grafts whose now was measured using a electromagnetic flowmeter. We also show our experience with infrared angiography. We consider these two methods more practical and feasible than others because it is pos sible to save between 3 to 4% of the coronary grafts and to make an im mediate record and to determine the relative prognosis bf the grafts p atency.