Experience with internal mammary artery grafts in 298 patients.

The internal mammary artery (IMA) was used as a graft in 298 patients undergoing coronary bypass procedures. Two patients died during the operative period and 2 others died one year later. Most of the survivors are free of angina. Of the IMAs restudied 9 to 24 months postoperatively, 95% were patent. This group included nearly all the patients having angina after operation. There are some situations in which the IMA may have inadequate flow in comparison to the vein graft. These results suggest the IMA is an excellent graft in most coronary bypass procedures.