The use of the radial artery (RA) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is increasing. This study describes mid-term results of the use of RA for CABG. Between March 1996 and March 1999, we performed 134 CABGs using RA or saphenous vein graft (SVG) for the left circumflex branch area or diagonal branch area. The mean age was 62.6±9.6 years in the RA group and 65.0±7.8 years in the SVG group. The average number of anastomoses was 2.7per patient. RA was anastomosed with the postero-lateral branch (PL) in 69 cases, with the obtuse marginal branch (OM) in 29 cases and with the diagonal branch (DB) in 10 cases. SVG was anastomosed with PL in 26 cases, with OM in 14 cases and with DB in 2 cases. The proximal anastomosis was made with the ascending aorta in all cases. No sequential bypass anastomosis was used in any case. The early patency rate of the grafts was 97.9% (93/95) in RA and 91.7% (33/36) in SVG. The clinically negative rate in the treadmill test (TMT) performed later was 99.0% (102/103) in RA and 90.9% (30/33) in SVG. The late patency rate of the grafts was 92.9% (13/14) in RA and 50.0% (3/6) in SVG. Perioperative death occurred in 5 cases. Late cardiac death occurred in 2 cases (0.02%) of the RA group and 1 case (0.03%) of the SVG group. The 3 year-survival rate free of cardiac events was 92.8% in the RA group and 80.9% in the SVG group. The use of RA for CABGs is not only effective for myocardial revascularization, but also can be expected to bring about good patency as a late result.

Fifteen consecutive patients with true or dissecting aneurysms of the thoracic descending aorta, and thoraco-abdominal aorta were operated upon under left thoracotomy with the support of partial cardiopulmonary bypass, equipment composed of a membrane oxygenator, centrifugal pump, and percutaneous thin wall cannulae which were all coated with covalently bonded heparin. The polyvinyl tube was coated with Biomate. The administration of systemic heparin was determined by an ACT of around 200 seconds. One perioperative death in a case treated by emergency operation for a ruptured descending aortic aneurysm occurred due to acute myocardial infarction. Other patients tolerated their operation well and are alive. No thromboembolic accident, bleeding tendency, nor organ failure were observed postoperatively in any other patients. In conclusion, the cardiopulmonary bypass using an antithrombotic circuit is safe and recommendable for thoracic descending or thoraco-abdominal aneurysm operations.