Intraoperative subclavian artery stenting to salvage a LIMA graft

The internal mammary artery is the preferred conduit for coronary bypass gr afting; however, suboptimal flow through the internal mammary artery is som etimes found during the operation, and the conduit is abandoned. Subclavian artery stenosis, a well-recognized cause of reduced internal mammary arter y now, is easily and effectively treated with endovascular techniques. We d escribe a case of intraoperative primary stent deployment in a high-grade s ubclavian artery stenosis compromising internal mammary artery flow. (C) 19 99 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.