Endothelial function and vasodilator profile of the inferior epigastric artery.

In the inferior epigastric artery, endothelium-dependent relaxations in response to substance P, histamine, and acetylcholine were present. These were greater than reported values in saphenous veins but less than the documented responses in internal mammary and gastroepiploic arteries. Endothelium-independent stimulation with nifedipine, papaverine, sodium nitroprusside, and glyceryl trinitrate induced relaxations that also were reduced compared with established arterial conduits. These findings appear to justify the clinical use of the inferior epigastric artery as a coronary bypass graft with monitoring of its long-term results and possibly perioperative pharmacologic manipulations.