Skeletonization does not influence internal thoracic artery innervation

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 77; no. 4; pp. 1257 - 1261
• Main Authors: Gaudino, Mario, Toesca, Amelia, Glieca, Franco, Girola, Fabiana, Luciani, Nicola, Possati, Gianfederico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Bypass - methods; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mammary Arteries - chemistry; Mammary Arteries - innervation; Mammary Arteries - transplantation; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurofilament Proteins - analysis; Pneumology; S100 Proteins - analysis; Tissue and Organ Harvesting - methods; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - analysis; Vasomotor System - drug effects; Vasomotor System - physiology; 23; Anesthesia; Circulatory system; Internal mammary artery; Cardiology; Innervation
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2003.09.062

This study was designed to compare the effect of surgical harvesting on internal thoracic artery innervation and to assess the eventual presence of denervation supersensitivity in skeletonized grafts. Nineteen patients who underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly assigned to receive a skeletonized (n = 9) or pedicled (n = 10) internal thoracic artery graft. Immunohistochemical nerve localization using anti–S-100 protein, anti–160-kd neurofilament polypeptide and anti–tyrosine hydroxylase antibodies was performed on distal specimens of arteries to study vascular innervation. Moreover, endovascular vasoactive challenges using serotonin and methylergometrine were performed at early angiographic control to evaluate the eventual presence of denervation supersensitivity. Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical specimens revealed lack of difference in the number of positive cells between skeletonized and pedicled arteries for all the antibodies used. No difference in the reaction to serotonin and methylergometrine was found between skeletonized and pedicled arteries. Skeletonization does not influence internal thoracic artery innervation.