Nine patients received 16 aortocoronary bypass grafts utilizing the umbil ical vein. A 4-mm internal diameter Dardik Biograft (Meadox Laboratories, Oakland, NJ) was used in all cases. Eight right coronary arteries, five circumflex, two anterior descending, and one diagonal artery were bypassed. There were no surgical deaths or perioperative myocardial infarctions. Clin ically, all patients are doing well 1 to 16 months postoperatively. Technical aspects of using these grafts are described. In patients lacking satisfactory saphenous veins, the umbilical vein can be used for the aortocoronary position. Continued long-term clinical evaluation is necessary.
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