Patency of Saphenous Aortocoronary-Bypass Grafts Demonstrated by Computed Tomography

Abstract

DURING the past 10 years aortocoronary bypass has been widely prescribed to treat angina pectoris. Dysfunction or closure of an aortocoronary-bypass graft is generally suggested by a patient's history, but few if any objective signs are derived from physical examination, electrocardiograms taken with patient at rest or under stress, or studies of regional myocardial perfusion with thallium–201.1 Definitive confirmation of graft closure or stenosis is obtained through postoperative selective angiography of the grafts in question. This invasive procedure is costly, requires hospitalization, and certainly carries some morbidity and mortality.A new technique, described by Lipton et al., 2 that uses computed . . .