title: Complications after radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting: our experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of complications in the upper limbs as a new event after radial artery (RA) harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 1997 to August 2001, the RA graft was used in 271 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at our department. These patients were prospectively reviewed. All patients were preoperatively examined to determine the presence of normal sensation and circulation in the upper limbs; then we evaluated the incidence of complications at discharge, 8 weeks, and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No donor arms developed symptoms of ischemia or motor dysfunction. At 8 weeks 2 patients (0.7%) reported donor arm weakness, and cutaneous paresthesia was noted postoperatively in 10 upper limbs (3.7%). The univariate statistical analysis showed that significant risk factors for persistent cutaneous paresthesia were diabetes and smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that complications after harvesting the RA for CABG are a rare consequence. The main symptom is a persistent cutaneous paresthesia present in 10 patients at 6-month follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Budillon
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostinelli
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beghi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pavesi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fragnito
authors.forename: Marzio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busi
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gherli
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000637:transplantation*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow