Why and how to achieve total arterial revascularisation in coronary surgery

Abstract

Single internal mammary artery and supplementary saphenous vein grafts (SVG) continues to be used in approximately 95% of coronary surgery as of 2019. The late failure of SVG is very well documented yet remains the predominant conduit used - why? The left internal mammary artery almost never fails, and late angiography of patent radial artery grafts also appear entirely normal. Logic would suggest that avoiding the conduit known to progressively fail would lead to improved late outcome. Our studies have demonstrated such findings in large single centre and national registry datasets. We describe strategies to achievement of total arterial coronary revascularisation.