Effect of radial artery harvesting on tissue perfusion and function of the hand.
This study was designed to measure the degree to which hand and forearm blood flow is reduced following harvesting of the radial artery in myocardial revascularization surgery and determine whether there is an effect on hand function. Twenty patients who had the radial artery used for myocardial revascularization underwent bilateral blood flow assessment of hands and forearms using Technetium-99m human serum albumin and clinical evaluation of hand function. Mean tissue perfusion in ml/100 ml/min +/- SD was as follows: donor hand 21.9 +/- 5.6, non-donor hand 25.5 +/- 6.1 (P = 0.00043), donor arm (hand and forearm) 17.5 +/- 3.7 and non-donor arm (hand and forearm) 21 +/- 5.1 (P = 0.000681). No clinical evidence of hand claudication was detected. This study suggests that removal of the radial artery reduces the tissue perfusion of the hand and forearm but does not affect hand function in the short term. The use of radial artery grafts in patients at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease should be carefully considered
Rafael Sadaba
J
J
Dept. of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Yorkshire Heart Centre, The General Infirmary, Leeds and Medical Physics Department, St James' University Hospital, Leeds, UK. jrsadaba@doctors.org.uk
Conroy
J L
JL
Burniston
M
M
Maughan
J
J
Munsch
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000637:transplantation*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin