Subintimal Obliterative Proliferation in Saphenous Vein Grafts: A Cause of Early Failure of Aorta-to-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Abstract

A 44-year-old man underwent aorta-to-right coronary artery bypass grafting using autogenous saphenous vein in August, 1970. By October recurrent angina had developed and cineangiography showed severe narrowing of the graft. Resection of the occluded portion and insertion of a new vein graft brought about relief of symptoms. Pathological examination of the resected vein graft showed marked subintimal proliferation causing nearly complete occlusion. Accelerated proliferative changes in vein grafts may serve as a cause of early failure in aorta-to-coronary artery bypass procedures.