Arterial grafts for coronary artery surgery.

Fifty specimens of left internal mammary artery, right gastroepiploic artery and right inferior epigastric artery were examined for length, diameter and frequency of atherosclerotic changes. Mean usable length was 132.4 mm for internal mammary arteries, 127.9 mm for gastroepiploic arteries and 128.4 mm for inferior epigastric arteries. One gastroepiploic artery was occluded. Histological examination revealed atherosclerotic plaques in seven internal mammary arteries (14%), 12 gastroepiploic arteries (24%) and 14 inferior epigastric arteries (28%). These findings emphasize the superiority of the inferior epigastric artery as the graft of choice for coronary artery bypass grafting. Gastroepiploic artery and inferior epigastric artery should only be used as additional grafts if 'all-arterial-grafting' is intended.