[Myocardial revascularization for ischemic heart disease without in situ internal thoracic artery grafting].

CABG was performed in 327 patients from 1989 to 1991. We used ITA grafts for the arterial conduit whenever this was possible. Since ITA grafting has become a routine procedure in CABG, we investigated the reasons why in situ ITA grafts were used in some of our patients. The number of CABG patients without in situ ITA grafts was 42 in 1989, 35 in 1990, and 9 in 1991. There was three main reasons for this: 1) problems with the coronary arteries or myocardium, 2) problems with the ITA grafts, and 3) problems with the patient. Although ITA grafts were not used in these cases, the indications for ITA grafting have been changed by our review. Use of ITA grafts need not be restricted for reasons of age or native coronary artery problems, but some patients will still be unsuitable for these grafts.