title: Ten-year Echo-Doppler evaluation of forearm circulation following radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass grafting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the chronic consequences of radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass surgery on the forearm circulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients submitted to radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass were submitted to serial Echo-Doppler evaluation of the flow and morphology of the forearm arteries until 10 years follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The peak systolic velocity of the ulnar artery of the operated side was significantly higher than the control site. The intima-media thickness of the ulnar artery was always significantly higher on the operated side, and this difference reached statistical significance at 10 years follow-up. There was a significantly higher prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in the ulnar artery (UA) of the operated versus control arm (11/39 vs 0/39; p=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass surgery leads to a chronic increase in ulnar flow accompanied by increased intima-media thickness and accelerated atherosclerotic disease. These findings may have potentially important implications for surgical indications and patients management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mguadino@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Glieca
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: Gianfranca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Losasso
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tondi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serricchio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pola
authors.forename: Gianfederico
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Possati
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000379:methods; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000503:physiopathology