Coronary artery bypass grafting for myocardial bridges of the left anterior descending artery.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: There is still controversy with regard to adequate therapy for symptomatic patients who are refractory to medical management with myocardial bridges of the left anterior descending artery. This study sought to evaluate the treatment of symptomatic coronary myocardial bridges with coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

METHODS

Thirteen patients who underwent surgery between October 2005 and May 2008 were included in this study. The mean patient age was 51.3 ± 10.2 years (range, 39-75 years). There were ten men and three women. All 13 patients had angina pectoris preoperatively, and they had myocardial bridges only. Coronary angiography prior to surgery demonstrated myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending artery with systolic compression ≥75% in all patients. They underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using the internal mammary artery.

RESULTS

The acute clinical success rate was 100% with respect to the absence of myocardial infarction, death, or other major in-hospital complications. Postoperative coronary CT angiography studies in seven patients after one year demonstrated no graft stenosis. During follow-up, no patient had symptoms of angina.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery using a LIMA graft is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic coronary myocardial bridges.