Assessment of coronary artery bypass graft patency by multidetector computed tomography and electron-beam tomography

This case report describes the use of retrospectively ECG-gated 16-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and electron-beam tomography (EBT) for assessing bypass graft patency in two patients with recurrent angina after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The results of each tomographic modality were compared to the findings of traditional coronary angiography. In the first patient MDCT showed occlusion of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and saphenous vein graft after the second anastomosis. Coronary angiography confirmed these findings. In the second patient EBT showed patency of the LIMA and saphenous vein graft. After the first anastomosis of the saphenous vein graft, the connected vessel filled poorly. Coronary angiography confirmed both grafts to be patent, and detected an occlusion distal to the first anastomosis. These findings support the evidence that both MDCT and EBT are suitable techniques for establishing bypass graft patency by non-invasive means.