Abstract: Objective To evaluate the outcome of the skeletonized harvesting method of internal mammary artery （IMA） in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and its apply. Methods Two hundred and seventyseven patients (diabetic 33）underwent myocardial revascularization. Left IMA (n=100) or both side of IMA (n=177) were totally skeletonized from the surrounding tissues just by use of the scissors and the titanium clips without the use of electrocautery during harvesting，both side of IMA were harvested in 21 diabetics. Five cases were done with nonextracorporeal circulation CABG and 272 cases were done with extracorporeal circulation CABG. Results The extracorporeal circulation time was 60 to 217min (average 90.1min), aortic clampping time was 30 to 160min(average 53.3min). Operative mortality was 2.2％（6/227）. The IMA grafting has revealed a good quality and blood flow was fluent enough to meet the myocardial need perioperatively. All patients had a disappearance of angina pectoris. Harvesting of both side of IMA in patients, even for those diabetes, had not revealed a higher sternum inflammation. Coronary angiography showed a good patency. Conclusion The skeletonized harvesting method of IMA has a good flow patency rate and a less sternum injury during the harvesting procedure. Harvesting both sides IMA is no longer a contraindication in diabetics.

Citation： XIONG Lihua,HUA Ping,LI Jia,ZHANG Huizhong,WEI Yiping,WANG Minghui,ZHANG Hua,Olivier BICAL. A “skeletonized” Harvesting Technique of Internal Mammary Artery in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2007, 14(4): 252-255. doi: Copy