Short-term Assessment of Radial Artery Grafts With Multidetector Computed Tomography

Abstract

Background The clinical use of radial artery (RA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is still limited worldwide, although it has been recommended by several guidelines, and the application of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the evaluation of graft patency is still to be verified. This study aims to report the short-term results of RA in CABG with MDCT. Methods The study population consists of 41 consecutive patients undergoing elective CABG with the RA graft between 2007 to 2008, with MDCT performed to evaluate graft patency during follow-up, and target vessels for the RA were non-left anterior descending coronary arteries with > 70% stenosis. Results MDCT could clearly show the structure and patency of grafts, even for complex coronary artery revascularization. A total of 150 distal anastomoses were assessed by MDCT during follow-up (mean, 8.9 ± 5.1 months). Functional graft patency of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was 92.9% (39/42), with the RA patency of 84.4% (38/45) and the patency of saphenous vein graft (SVG) of 81.1% (30/37). And the RA targeting the left coronary artery system might have better patency than that of the RA targeting the right coronary artery system (25/29, 86.2% vs 13/16, 81.3%, p = 0.686). Conclusions MDCT could provide excellent visualization of grafts in CABG. The short-term patency rate of RA grafts is good, and the RA might be associated with better patency when targeted to the left but not the right coronary artery.

Radial artery harvesting with skin bridge technique among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: an approach for developing countries

“…3 Radial artery graft can lead to better survival rates and surgical outcomes and reduced risk of postsurgical complications. 4,5 Two approaches have been used for radial artery harvesting: an open technique, which involves a straight full length forearm incision along the route of the radial artery, and the endoscopic technique which involves a single 3cm-long incision over the radial artery pulsations near the radial styloid and insertion of an endoscope through the incision. Open technique has decreased the risk of haematoma formation, whereas the endoscopic technique leads to smaller incision with better cosmetic outcome and less complications.…”