title: Vasoreactivity and histology of the radial artery: comparison of open versus endoscopic approaches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radial artery harvesting using the less invasive endoscopic technique involves dissection in a narrow tunnel and may cause an injury or induce vasospasm to the conduit. To assess this hypothesis, radial artery segments harvested endoscopically or conventionally were studied for reactivity and integrity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rings of radial arteries from 80 CABG patients who had their radial artery harvested either open (n=40) or endoscopic (n=40), were attached to a force transducer then subjected to norepinephrine (NE, 10(-6)M), acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-5)M), followed by sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10(-7) to 10(-5)M) to test endothelial dependent and non-dependent relaxation. Vessels' integrity was assessed by microscopic staining with hematoxylin-eosin for muscle layers, Masson trichrome for collagen content and von Gieson for elastica layers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contraction and relaxation in response to NE, ACh and SNP were similar in both techniques. Arterial layers, collagen content and elastic lamina were preserved in all radial rings. Both techniques were found to be equally efficient in physiological and microscopic tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similar reactivity and integrity of the radial artery in both techniques should encourage the less invasive endoscopic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Israel. benjamin2@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Medalion
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobar
authors.forename: Zohar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yosibash
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stamler
authors.forename: Erez
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sharoni
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Snir
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porat
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hochhauser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents