Functional Recovery of Radial Artery Conduit for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

The authors have studied the effect of lercanidipine on the functional status of radial artery used as conduit for CABG in patients with coronary artery stenosis. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation (ΔD) was evaluated preoperatively by using duplex ultrasound. Patients were divided into groups I and II with ΔD≥8% and ΔD<8%, respectively. Group II was divided into groups IIA (lercanidipine) and IIB (control). Mechanical force of isolated arterial segments was initially lower in group I. Preoperative treatment with lercanidipine (2.5–5 mg/kg for 5–7 days) led to a significant increase in endothelium-dependent vasodilation and decrease in tone of isolated arterial segments. Preoperative treatment with lercanidipine effectively preserved dilatational properties of arterial conduit.