Should We Hesitate to Use Skeletonized Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery?

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the mortality and morbidity associated with skeletonized BIMA use as well as the long-term outcomes of the technique. Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent CABG with or without additional intervention by using skeletonized BIMA in our clinic between the years 2017 and 2021 were included in this study (n= 193). Results: During the six-month postoperative follow-up, none of the patients in whom BIMA was used developed deep sternal wound infection. Only ten patients developed skin closure defects at the sternal incision line during the first postoperative week, and one of them required revision of the skin incision site. Bacterial growth was not present on the sternal incision site cultures of any patients. Conclusion: When considering the long-term outcomes of skeletonized BIMA use, we believe that surgeons should not be reluctant to use BIMA due to concerns about deep sternal wound infection.