Intercoronary Anastomotic Channels and Sudden Unexpected Death from Advanced Coronary Atherosclerosis

Within the limits of the technic in this study, intercoronary anastomotic channels over 40 µ in diameter were unrelated to age and the degree of coronary atherosclerosis. Intercoronary anastomotic channels over 40 µ in diameter with one exception were found only in the presence of myocardial infarcts. Those persons who died suddenly and unexpectedly with advanced coronary atherosclerosis did not reveal any evidence of intercoronary anastomoses over 40 microns in diameter. This may be a possible factor in the inability of such individuals to survive a severe initial attack of myocardial ischemia.