Severe Kawasaki heart disease treated with an internal mammary artery graft in pediatric patients. A first successful report.

Two Japanese boys, 6 and 10 years old, required operation for severe Kawasaki heart disease. Both had multiple coronary arterial aneurysms and stenoses, and one had mitral regurgitation as well. The operations consisted of anastomosis between the left internal mammary artery and the left anterior descending artery and insertion of an autologous saphenous vein between the aorta and the posterior descending artery in both patients. The mitral valve was replaced in the one with mitral regurgitation. Angina pectoris has been completely relieved as confirmed by postoperative angiocardiography. Late results of coronary bypass grafting with the saphenous vein in pediatric patients with Kawasaki disease have been less than satisfactory because of the high occlusion rate of the graft. The internal mammary artery may be superior, at least theoretically, to the saphenous vein graft because it is a "living graft" with a high possibility of growing and with less susceptibility to degeneration. This is the first report of successful operation utilizing an internal mammary artery graft in coronary bypass for Kawasaki disease.