Use of the internal mammary artery for preservation of circulation to the left arm after subclavian flap aortoplasty in correction of coarctation in children.

In 14 children aged 4 to 12 years in whom the anatomy of the coarctation did not allow for an end-to-end anastomosis, we have performed a subclavian flap angioplasty. To correct the inconvenience of ligating the subclavian artery and to avoid the use of synthetic material, we used the internal mammary artery to reestablish circulation from the aorta to the subclavian artery. All patients are well. At postoperative catheterization (18 to 42 months, average 24) in the first eight, the mammary artery was patent and the flow to the subclavian was good.