[Aortocoronary bypass in children. Apropos of 6 cases].

The improvement in diagnostic techniques for myocardial ischaemia and in imaging of coronary anomalies in children has increased the number of coronary revascularisation procedures. Moreover, the indications are more diverse with the emergence of acquired coronary disease which was unknown until recently, related to operations comprising manipulation of the coronary arteries. The authors report their experience of 7 internal mammary artery bypass grafts in 6 children aged 3 days to 11.5 years (average 2 years): 3 left main coronary stenosis after arterial switch for transposition of the great arteries, 1 peroperative lesion of an intramural left coronary in a case of simple transposition of the great arteries, 1 congenital atresia of the right ostium associated with Tetralogy of Fallot, and 1 right coronary occlusion with giant aneurysms of the left coronary in a case of Kawasaki's disease. There were no operative fatalities. All the coronary grafts were patent at early postoperative control. These results indicate clearly that the method is very feasible from a very early age. Long-term patency, the growth of the anastomosis and of the distal vessels are questions which await a reply in the future.