Coronary revascularization in the presence of ascending aortic calcification: use of an internal mammary artery-saphenous vein composite graft.

Complications arising from manipulation of the diseased ascending aorta constitute a significant portion of the morbidity and mortality of coronary revascularization. A case is described in which coronary revascularization was achieved by extension of the left internal mammary artery with a segment of reversed saphenous vein. The major advantage of this technique is that it obviates any instrumentation of the aorta or great vessels.