Evaluating Potential Autologous Bypass Grafts with Tomographic Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Compared with Standard Color Duplex.

Background: Vein mapping using duplex ultrasound (DUS) is a routine in selecting optimal autologous bypass grafts (aBG) but is time consuming and operator-dependent. Tomographic three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (tUS), using free-hand electromagnetic tracking, allows cardiac and vascular surgeons to view 3D images of the entire length of the potential bypass graft. This study compares tUS with DUS in the evaluation of potential autologous grafts for coronary and lower limb bypass.