Inferior epigastric artery as a conduit for myocardial revascularization.

In 18 patients the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) was used for myocardial revascularization along with the left internal mammary artery and saphenous vein (4.5 grafts/patient). Preoperative duplex scan assessment of IEA correctly predicted its distal diameter. At operation the mean internal diameter was 1.6 (1.5-2.0) mm distally and 2.1 (2.0-2.5) mm proximally. The mean in situ flow after intraluminal injection of papaverine was 115 (36-210) ml/min in IEA and 136 (56-210) ml/min in internal mammary artery. There was no perioperative death or myocardial infarction. Morbidity associated with IEA harvesting was minor: ultrasonography showed diastasis and slower contraction of the rectus muscle at the harvesting site than contralaterally in one case. The preoperative duplex scan was useful for evaluating IEA size. All the patients were clinically improved. The patency rate at selective IEA angiography 3 months post-operatively was 72% (13/18). This poor early patency of IEA in our small series raises doubts concerning the vessel's suitability for myocardial revascularization.