Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery Use for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Remains Underutilized: A Propensity-Matched Multi-Institution Analysis [1]
The authors retrospectively analyzed the STS datablase for utilization of bilateral mammary artery (BIMA) grafts in patients considered at low risk for BIMA use. This group of patients were compared to a propensity matched group of single mammary artery graft (SIMA) patients. Overall, 24% of patients met criteria for "low risk"; however, only 6% of these underwent BIMA revascularization. Thus, despite the known superior outcomes of BIMA grafting in patients at low risk for BIMA harvesting, the authors conclude that BIMA grafting remains underutilized.