graft patency
The functional openness and blood flow through surgically created bypass grafts.
Full Definition
The measure of whether a coronary artery bypass graft remains open and provides adequate blood flow to the target coronary vessel. Graft patency is assessed both acutely in the operating room and long-term through imaging studies such as angiography or CT coronary angiography. Factors affecting patency include graft type (arterial vs. venous), surgical technique, target vessel quality, and postoperative antiplatelet therapy. Poor graft patency can lead to recurrent angina, myocardial infarction, or need for repeat revascularization. Immediate assessment may include transit-time flow measurement or intraoperative angiography.
Usage
Usage note: May be qualified as early (<30 days) or late (>1 year) patency.
In Context
- "Intraoperative flow measurement confirmed excellent graft patency to all target vessels." — Operative report
- "One-year follow-up angiography demonstrated 95% graft patency rates." — Surgical outcomes report