Re-use of left internal thoracic artery for redo operation after MIDCAB

We report a case of recycling of left internal thoracic artery (LITA) in si tu in reoperation of coronay artery bypass grafting, A 41-year-old male, wh o has poor-controlled hypercholesterolemia, was bypassed LITA to the left a nterior descending artery (LAD) in minimally invasive direct coronary arter y bypass (MIDCAB) manner at the other hospital, Four months later, he felt short of breath on effort. Coronary angiogram showed stenoses of the left m ain trunk and anastomosis site of the LITA. At redo operation, we skeletoni sed the LITA and reused it in situ to the LAD. Using the skeletonised metho d for re-harvesting LITA made the graft reach a more distal portion without tension. He is doing well at 18 months after surgery. In selected patients , recycling of the used arterial grafts can reserve other arterial grafts f or redo operations in the future.