CASE OF SUCCESSFUL PERCUTANEOUS STENTING OF AN IN-SITU GASTROEPIPLOIC-CORONARY BYPASS GRAFT

The in situ or free gastroepiploic artery (GEA) is being used as an ar terial conduit for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), The recent r apid improvements in stent manufacture, particularly their profile and flexibility, and related equipment, have helped reduce complications of coronary angioplasty. We describe one case of successful stenting o f an in situ GEA-posterior descending artery graft. Stenting of an in situ GEA graft may avoid an incomplete result of angioplasty with poss ible restenosis or the need for multiple surgical revascularization. T he use of stents in GEA grafts with 6 Fr soft guiding catheters can be encouraged. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.