title: Assessment of collateral circulation to the hand prior to radial artery harvest.
abstract: Assessment of collateral circulation to the hand is required prior to invasive procedures or harvesting of the radial artery (RA). A modified Allen's test (MAT) is commonly used to assess palmar arch collaterals. A variety of non-invasive methods including digital pressures, plethysmography, pulse oximetry and duplex ultrasonography are available to supplement physical examination. However, no consensus exists about the proper role of the MAT and the most appropriate non-invasive test (NIT) in this situation. Interpretation of the MAT and NIT findings are also controversial. This paper reviews the anatomy and the physiologic basis for the MAT and various NITs, the pros and cons of various NITs and recommendations for the assessment of collateral circulation to the hand prior to interventions directed at the RA.
authors: Vascular Laboratory, The OSU Heart & Vascular Center and the Division of Vascular Diseases & Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Habib
authors: Laureen
authors: L
authors: Baetz
authors: Bhagwan
authors: B
authors: Satiani
mesh_terms: D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology*