Background The internal mammary artery is the vessel of choice for myocardial revascularisation during coronary artery
bypass grafting (CABG). Although it is possible to harvest the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) without
opening the left pleura, pleurotomy is usually performed to provide adequate exposure and allow the
placement of the LIMA medial to the upper lobe, preventing any undue tension on the mammary pedicle.
However, the intact pleura technique may have a lower risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. We
aimed to study the effects of both procedures on pulmonary function and the incidence of complications.
Method One hundred patients with ischaemic heart disease indicated for CABG were included and divided into
two groups. The closed pleural technique group included 50 patients with preservation of the pleural
integrity during mammary harvesting. The open pleural procedure group included 50 patients without
preservation of pleural integrity. Spirometry was done pre- and postoperatively in both groups and
postoperative pulmonary complications in both groups were recorded and analysed.
Results Internal mammary harvesting with preservation of pleural integrity during CABG in patients in the closed
pleural procedure group showed significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in the first second
(FEV1%), forced vital capacity (FVC%), and FEV1/FVC compared with the corresponding values in patients
in the open pleural procedure group, on day 5 postoperatively, at discharge, and at day 30. There
were fewer complications in preservation of pleural integrity with regard to lung atelectasis and pleural
effusion, which were significantly lower in patients in the open pleural procedure group.
Conclusions Preservation of pleural integrity has beneficial effects on pulmonary functions and has fewer associated
pulmonary complications