Thoracodorsal artery as a free graft for coronary artery bypass grafting

Arterial myocardial revascularization using different arterial conduits as mammary, radial, gastroepiploic, subscapular and epigastric arteries are well documented. This report describes a preparation and use of thoracodorsal artery as a free graft for coronary artery bypass grafting. The preparation and removal of thoracodorsal artery were performed through right axilla. The artery was used as a free conduit for left anterior descending artery (LAD) in a 58-year-old female for the second revascularization. The saphenous veins, mammary arteries, right radial artery and epigastric artery were not available. The perioperative course was uneventful and we can recommend the graft as an alternative for such cases. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.