A new method of grafting the circumflex through lateral MIDCAB with the use of the radial loop technique

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Mary's Hospital, 70 St Olaf's Road, Fulham, London SW6 7DN, UK * Corresponding author. Fax: +44-207-886-1147 tathan5253{at}aol.com We report a technique that allows total arterial revascularization of the circumflex territory without cardiopulmonary bypass through limited thoracotomy with the radial as a composite graft. The technique includes anastomosis of the distal end of the radial artery to its more proximal part after the division of the conduit from the brachial artery. In this way we create an adjustable loop that can be divided and used as bifurcated conduit in two coronary targets according to the needs of revascularization. Key Words: MIDCAB; Radial artery; Composite grafts; Arterial revascularization