Postoperative nursing management in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization with the internal mammary artery bypass.

The IMA is being utilized with increasing frequency as the graft of choice for myocardial revascularization. Certain postoperative management requirements differ in patients with the internal mammary bypass, which are often challenging. Because it is important that the nursing staff have a thorough understanding of the peculiarities of postoperative care in patients with IMA grafts, this article was prepared to review the anatomic, pathologic, physiologic, and clinical aspects of the IMA in myocardial revascularization. A retrospective comparative chart review of patients with IMA grafts and SVGs was also performed to better define the specific postoperative nursing problems of hemorrhaging, pulmonary support, and pain control that are encountered in these patients.