LIMA
Pronunciation: LIE-ma
Also written as: LIMA — Left Internal Mammary Artery
Gold standard conduit for coronary artery bypass surgery, commonly encountered in angiographic assessment.
Full Definition
The Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA) is considered the gold standard conduit for surgical coronary revascularization, most commonly grafted to the left anterior descending artery. In vascular intervention contexts, LIMA evaluation is crucial during angiographic assessment of patients with prior cardiac surgery. The LIMA graft demonstrates superior long-term patency compared to venous grafts and rarely requires percutaneous intervention. When LIMA stenosis does occur, it typically involves the anastomotic site or distal native vessel, requiring careful technical approach due to the graft's delicate nature and tendency to spasm.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize as LIMA; distinguish from LITA (Left Internal Thoracic Artery) which is the anatomical term.
In Context
- "The LIMA to LAD graft showed excellent patency with no significant stenosis." — Angiographic report
- "Selective LIMA angiography revealed competitive flow from the native vessel." — Post-surgical assessment