Fate of coronary collateral circulation after aorto-coronary saphenous vein bypass grafts.

The pre- and postoperative patterns of coronary artery collateral circulation have been studied in 34 patients who had saphenous vein bypass grafting. When the graft remained patent homocoronary collaterals could not be visualized after operation, but new intercoronary anastomoses frequently developed to other diseased arteries. When the graft and the bypassed artery were both obstructed there was a high incidence (5 out of 11) of myocardial infarction despite good preoperative collaterals.