Transit Time Flow Measurement in Coronary Surgery

Transit-time flowmetry (TTFM) allows grafts quality control during coronary artery bypass surgery by measuring the flow volume through them. To date, many studies have deeply studied the predictive role on the graft outcomes of the various flowmetry-derived parameters. One of the least investigated aspects, however, is the mutual influence that two newly realized grafts can have. This possibility would be related to the presence of a more or less developed collateral circulation between the bypassed territories. The purpose of this study is to assess whether a graft for a territory different than that provided by the left anterior descending artery (LAD) may affect the functionality (measured through flowmetry) of the left internal mammary artery - LAD graft.