Internal mammary coronary artery bypass surgery: experience with 1000 cases.

A study of 813 men and 187 women who underwent internal mammary artery (IMA) bypass from 1976 to the present time is presented. In approximately 10% of patients, only the IMA was used for coronary artery bypass, and in approximately 90%, one to four saphenous vein grafts were used additionally. Hospital mortality in the series was 1.8%. The IMA, when properly selected and carefully harvested, is considered an excellent conduit for myocardial revascularization. Disadvantages include its limited application to the proximal portions of one (or two) coronary vessels, a relatively delicate and difficult anastomosis, and an allegedly high incidence of postoperative chest wall discomfort with pulmonary complications. However, this experience with IMA coronary artery bypass supports the view that it is an ideal conduit for the anterior wall when conditions permit its use.