Epicardial Coronary Artery Imaging

Intraoperative high‐frequency echocardiography with a 12‐MHz linear scanner is a diagnostic tool for imaging coronary morphology. This method was used in 630 vascular sections in 112 operations. The vessel diameter (80%), the absence of stenoses (77%), the condition of the vessel wall (39%), and the localization of occlusions (14%) were examined. Fifty vessels not visible to the eye (8%) could be echocardiographically imaged. Anastomoses were examined 45 times (7%). By using high‐frequency echocardiography, intraoperative decisions could be acted upon immediately in 46 operations (41%).