Objective: In this study, we compared the histologic and morphometric properties of both internal thoracic arteries and the right gastroepiploic artery (GEA) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods: We microscopically examined transverse sections of segments of both internal thoracic arteries and the right GEA obtained from 83 consecutive patients who underwent CABG.
Results: There were no significant differences between the internal thoracic arteries. Significant differences were found between the left and right internal thoracic arteries and GEA in the intimal width (21.8, 21.5, and 71.7 μm, respectively; P < .01), intima-to-media ratio (0.286, 0.256, and 0.749, respectively; P < .01), and media width (148.5, 157.5, and 164.8 μm, respectively; P = .43). No atherosclerotic lesions, medial calcification, or intimal thickening were seen in the internal thoracic arteries; however, atherosclerotic lesions were seen in the GEA. The intima of the GEA was thicker than that of the internal thoracic arteries. Intimal thickening of the GEA, but not the internal thoracic arteries, was positively correlated with risk of arteriosclerosis. In patients with diabetes mellitus, dietary/drug therapy and insulin therapy were associated with GEA intimal thickness (P = .02 and .01, respectively).
Conclusions: The internal thoracic arteries have equivalent histologic and morphometric properties that differ from those of the GEA only in intimal width. The former had no intimal thickening, and is thus preferable to the GEA for CABG.
Keywords: coronary artery bypass grafting; gastroepiploic artery; internal thoracic artery; intimal hyperplasia.
Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.