Intermediate
Technical
IVT
arterial graft
Artery used as conduit for coronary bypass, typically internal mammary or radial artery, offering superior long-term patency.
Full Definition
An arterial conduit harvested from the patient for use in coronary artery bypass grafting, most commonly the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), right internal mammary artery (RIMA), or radial artery. Arterial grafts demonstrate superior long-term patency compared to venous grafts due to their resistance to atherosclerosis and ability to adapt to flow demands. The LIMA to LAD graft is considered the gold standard with 90% patency at 10 years. Multiple arterial grafting strategies are increasingly used to improve long-term outcomes.
Usage
Usage note: Specify the arterial source (LIMA, RIMA, radial, etc.) for clarity.
In Context
- "Complete arterial revascularization was achieved using bilateral mammary arteries." — operative report
- "The radial artery graft was harvested from the non-dominant arm." — surgical technique note
Also known as
arterial conduit
Contrasted with
venous graft
Don't confuse with
synthetic graft
saphenous vein graft