Simple method for monitoring hand perfusion following radial artery harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting.
The ever increasing use of the radial artery (RA) as a coronary bypass conduit raises concerns regarding potential local complications following RA harvest in particular hand ischaemia. Transcutaneous pulse oximetry provides a simple non-invasive objective assessment of collateral ulnar blood flow thus providing adequate continuous monitoring of hand perfusion in the early post-operative phase following RA procurement.
Division of Cardiac Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, Northern Ireland, UK. anandsachithanandan@yahoo.com
Anand
A
Sachithanandan
Alsir
A
Ahmed
Andrew
A
Muir
Alastair
A
Graham