INTRAOPERATIVE DIRECT LIMA ANGIOGRAPHY FOR BEATING HEART OPERATIONS

The importance of the angiographic assessment of coronary bypass graft s performed on the beating heart has been recognized. We describe a si mple technique for intraoperative angiography of left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending coronary artery grafts that does n ot require selective left internal mammary artery catheterization. Thi s method allows immediate appraisal of the graft, hence enabling the s urgeon to revise any graft or anastomosis abnormality immediately and to verify optimal results of beating heart operations. (Ann Thorac Sur g 1998;66:1431-2) (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.