Abstract
We examined the process of vessel wall thickening in angiographically normal saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) using intravascular ultrasound. Fifteen SVGs were studied in the early stage (within 1 month postoperatively) and 14 SVGs in the late stage (over 6 months postoperatively). Lumen cross-sectional area (CSA) and vessel CSA were measured. Vessel wall area (VWA) was calculated and %VWA was defined as VWA / vessel CSA. Vessel CSA, VWA, and %VWA were significantly larger in the late stage than in the early stage (28.8 vs 21.6 mm2, 15.8 vs 5.3 mm2, 55.7% vs 24.9%, respectively) and lumen CSA was smaller in the late stage (12.8 vs 16.2 mm2). VWA correlated with vessel CSA, but not with lumen CSA. The time course of %VWA showed that %VWA in the late stage was a plateau state. From these findings, we concluded that the wall thickening process in SVGs begins within 6 months postoperatively and is accompanied by compensatory vessel enlargement.
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Received: May 8, 2002 / Accepted: September 6, 2002
Present address Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics (A8), Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Tel. +81-6-6879-3635; Fax +81-6-6879-3645 e-mail: higuchi-yaj@umin.ac.jp
Correspondence to Y. Higuchi
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Higuchi, Y., Hirayama, A., Shimizu, M. et al. Postoperative changes in angiographically normal saphenous vein coronary bypass grafts using intravascular ultrasound. Heart Vessels 17, 57–60 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003800200044
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003800200044