[Validity of computed tomography for the demonstration of patent or occluded aortocoronary vein grafts. A multicenter study].

In 328 patients with 611 aortocoronary bypass grafts CT was performed and 96 of them with 199 grafts were additionally studied by angiography. The results showed a sensitivity of 92,6%, a specificity of 78,1% and an overall accuracy of 87,9% for CT, which proved to be a reliable method for non-invasive direct visualization of aortocoronary bypass grafts. It can be performed within few days after surgery and also in out-patients as a follow-up study. Graft occlusion demonstrated in CT should be verified by angiography, whenever it results in a therapeutic consequence. Conversely if CT reveals patency of the graft, an angiographic control study is not necessary.