The radial artery: a forgotten conduit.
We reviewed the published literature on the clinical and angiographic outcome of radial artery (RA) grafts and on the comparison between the RA and the other conduits used in coronary operations. The RA is a better graft than the saphenous vein and comparable to the right internal thoracic artery (RITA); moreover, the RA seems a better choice than the RITA in patients at risk of sternal or pulmonary complications. We conclude that the RA should be preferred to the saphenous vein and considered at least equivalent to the RITA as the second conduit during every elective coronary artery bypass procedure.
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mgaudino@tiscali.it.
Mario
M
Gaudino
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Filippo
F
Crea
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Federico
F
Cammertoni
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Massimo
M
Massetti
D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology