Intraoperative graft assessment and imaging of native coronary arteries

Abstract: The evaluation of native coronary arteries in cardiac surgery represents a useful tool to detect coronary artery stenosis, identify the target artery, and choose the best anastomotic site. Intraoperative graft assessment is a fundamental step of coronary artery bypass grafting. It is able to reduce graft failure related to technical error, improving both short- and long-term outcome of patients submitted to surgical myocardial revascularization. Herein procedures of graft assessment are described, reporting their strengths and limitations.