Retrospective analysis of local sensorimotor deficits after radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
The radial artery (RA) has gained widespread acceptance as a conduit for coronary artery bypass. We analyze patient-based data to determine risk factors for long-term upper limb morbidities associated with RA harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting.


METHODS
Between April 1997 and March 2004, a total of 1030 patients underwent RA harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting for a total of 1704 harvest sites. Patients were contacted by telephone and asked to report any ongoing severe sensory and functional motor deficits for each harvest site since surgery. Retrospective chart review was performed and preoperative risk factors were evaluated. Patient-based risk factors were evaluated for development of significant long-term local sensorimotor deficits including gender, elderly age (>70 y), diabetes, smoking, and whether the RA was harvested from the dominant hand.


RESULTS
Successful evaluation of 629 patients for a total of 1048 RA harvest sites was completed. The mean follow-up time was 48.3 mo (range, 2 to 86 mo). The mean age of the patients analyzed was 62.2 y. On statistical analysis, diabetics and elderly did not report significantly greater functional or sensory deficits than nondiabetics and nonelderly, respectively. There was a significantly higher incidence of sensory deficits in smokers compared with nonsmoker patients (4.2% versus 1.4%; P = 0.005) but no difference in their functional impairment was noted. Harvesting from the dominant hand did not influence the occurrence of sensory or motor functional deficits.


CONCLUSIONS
RA harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting can be done with minimal serious long-term upper limb morbidity in higher risk patients. Based on our findings, harvesting of the RA from the dominant hand is not contraindicated in these patients.
Shah
Salman A
SA
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-9292, USA. Salman1997@yahoo.com
Chark
Davin
D
Williams
Judson
J
Hessheimer
Amelia
A
Huh
Jeannie
J
Wu
Yi-Chen
YC
Chang
Paul A
PA
Scholl
Frank G
FG
Drinkwater
Davis C
DC
D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects*