MORPHOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM OF GRAFT-ARTERY JUNCTIONS

Abstract

The review describes current state of myocardial revascularization using both venous and arterial grafts in terms of their morphology and function. A new framework of the graft-artery junction as a separate morphological and functional system has been proposed. Taking into account numerous data and separate evidences, this system may be separated into a single unit characterized by mutual relations. On the one hand, the graft produces favorable effects on the coronary artery protecting from atherosclerosis, on the other, the coronary artery itself may provoke specific changes in the graft. The proposed graft-artery junction provides new insight into the decision-making process for the graft selection in coronary artery bypass grafting.