Technické aspekty pouzití pravé gastroepiploické arterie pro revaskularizaci myokardu.

The authors give an account of 16 cases where they used the right gastroepiploic artery (GEA) for revascularization of the heart muscle. Their own findings are based on the author's experience at a department with the greatest number of thus operated patients (Groningen, Netherlands). These data were already published. GEA was used during the revascularization operation in 16 of 112 patients operated after 1994 (14%). All operated patients were males aged 30 to 58 years (mean age 47 years). None of the patients died. The use of GEA did not cause any postoperative complications. During the short-term follow up there was no reason to doubt the patency of the graft and an invasive examination was not indicated so far. According to the authors' experience the GEA graft can be used for anastomosis with the right coronary artery or its branch almost in all patients indicated for revascularization. It is thus possible to obtain a high-standard arterial graft where long-term patency can be assumed. The authors discuss in detail the indications and technique of the operation.