Atherosclerosis Involving the Internal Mammary Artery

Abstract Three patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operation at this institution over a two-month period were found to have significant atherosclerotic disease involving the internal mammary artery. All 3 patients were relatively young men with hypertension and severe three-vessel coronary involvement. Continuing experience with the internal mammary artery plus subsequent extensive postmortem dissections have supported our impression that atherosclerosis involving the internal mammary artery is much more prevalent than previously implied. Techniques for evaluating this vessel both preoperatively and intraoperatively are discussed.