INTERNAL MAMMARY ARTERY COLLATERAL TO THE EXTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY - AN ANGIOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO CORONARY-BYPASS SURGERY

The role of routine selective angiography of the internal mammary artery prior to myocardial revascularization is controversial. We report a patient with coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease in whom the left internal mammary artery supplied blood flow to the left external iliac artery via a collateral network. Thus, selective angiography of the internal mammary artery did play a major role in the proper management of this patient who required coronary bypass surgery. A major potential postoperative complication of left lower extremity ischemia may have been prevented. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.