OBJECTIVETo evaluate radial artery (RA) and internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts in coronary artery bypass and the use of color Doppler ultrasound in the peri-operative evaluation of IMA and radial-ulnar collateral circulation.

METHODSFrom June 1998 to June 2000, sixty cases of coronary bypass revascularization with RA and IMA were performed. Preoperatively, the radial-ulnar collateral circulation was evaluated with the modified Allen's test, color Doppler ultrasound and noninvasive oxygen saturation measurement. The IMA lumen and blood flow were measured at the first intercostal space with color Doppler ultrasound preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTSOne patient (1.7%) died of serious cardiac arrhythmia on the fourth postoperative day. There were no arterial graft harvest related complications. Before harvesting, the ulnar artery blood flow was 30.78 +/- 9.71 ml/min, and it increased to 43.36 +/- 13.98 ml/min (40.87% increase, P < 0.01) after the operation. Compared with the baseline, there was no obvious change of IMA blood flow postoperatively (P > 0.05), but the systolic/diastolic flow ratio markedly decreased from 8.57 +/- 3.98 ml/min to 3.41 +/- 4.87 ml/min (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSArterial grafts can be safely used for coronary bypass revascularization with good results. The ulnar artery blood flow can increase compensatively after RA harvesting. The diastolic blood flow of grafted IMA markedly increased postoperatively. Color Doppler ultrasound was very helpful both in evaluating the radial-ulnar collateral circulation before RA harvesting and in assessing the patency of the grafted IMA after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Coronary Circulation ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries ; transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; transplantation

BACKGROUNDTotal arterial revascularization (TAR) was widely utilized in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as a result of its better long-term effect compared with vein grafts. Of the arterial conduits, radial artery (RA) gained popularity for its easy availability and reported long-term patency. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of RA in TAR in CABG.

METHODSFrom January 2000 to December 2006, 85 patients (56 male and 29 female) at a mean age of 57.0 +/- 5.2 years, underwent TAR in CABG. RA and left internal mammary artery (LIMA) with composite Y or T and sequential grafting techniques were used. Post-operative complications were recorded and follow-up was performed.

RESULTSEighty-five LIMA and 149 RA grafts including 21 single and 64 bilateral RA were collected. A total of 87 distal anastomoses were done with the LIMA and another 152 were done with the RA, with the mean number of distal anastomosis per patient of 2.81 +/- 0.47. The proximal RA ends were anastomsed directly to the aorta in 140 grafts with Y or T graft off in situ LIMA in 9, Y or T graft off RA in 9. The distal end was anastomsed to right coronary artery system in 92, to obtuse margina in 46, to diagonal in 19 and to ramous intermedius in 5. Nine sequential anastomoses were performed with RA. Nine composite Y or T grafts were constructed with RA and LIMA while another 9 were constructed with RA and RA. One (1.2%) patient died, 3 patients (3.5%) experienced acute renal failure and 2 (2.4%) developed stroke. All patients were still alive and no patient had evidences of newly occurred myocardial infarction or angina after a mean follow-up of 36.5 +/- 4.1 months (6 - 67 months). Postoperatively at 6 month, mean left ventricular ejective fraction was increased to 0.49 +/- 0.09, compared with that of 0.43 +/- 0.11 preoperatively (P = 0.027). Postoperative mean New York Heart Association class was 2.5 +/- 0.5, compared with that of 3.0 +/- 0.4 preoperatively (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONSTAR with arterial conduits of which RA was mainly used was proved in this study to be effective and safe in CABG.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of endoscopic radial artery harvesting techniques on the prevalence of complications after coronary artery bypass grafting, and to assess the potential trauma to the radial artery through the histological changes.

METHODSFrom August 2003 to June 2008, 87 patients undergoing CABG had radial artery harvested by endoscopic harvesting system. About 4 mm proximal and distal radial artery end segment of 10 patients undergoing endoscopic and conventional harvesting were examined with light and electro-microscope.

RESULTSThe endoscopic harvest time was 42 to 98 min, with a mean of (57.6 +/- 17.3) min. The harvested conduit length was 15 to 20 cm, with a mean of (17.5 +/- 1.6) cm. Objective dorsal thenar numbness remained in 7 patients, none complained of forearm numbness at 3-month follow-up. The result of light and electro-microscope had no differences in the intima, media, or adventitia between endoscopically and conventionally obtained radial artery segments.

CONCLUSIONThe use of endoscopic radial artery harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed safely with infrequent complications. This method results in excellent patient satisfaction, particularly regarding the cosmetic outcome.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; transplantation ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the application experience and clinical effect of radial artery in total arterial coronary revascularization (TAR) in elderly patients. METHODS: Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients who underwent TAR at the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital from July 1, 2020 to May 30, 2022. Patients were divided into ≥ 65-year-old group and < 65-year-old group according to age. The radial artery blood flow, diameter, intimal integrity and Allen test were evaluated by ultrasound before operation. The distal ends of radial artery were collected for pathological examination during operation. Coronary artery CT angiography (CTA) was examined postoperatively and follow up. The safety and reliability of ultrasonic assessment of radial artery and application of radial artery in elderly patients with TAR were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients received TAR, including 35 cases aged ≥ 65 years old, 66 cases aged < 65 years old; 78 cases used bilateral radial arteries, and 23 cases used unilateral radial arteries. 4 cases of bilateral internal mammary arteries. All the proximal ends of the radial artery were anastomosed to the proximal end of the ascending aorta, 34 cases were performed of "Y" grafts, and 4 cases were sequential anastomoses. There was no in-hospital death and perioperative cardiovascular events. Perioperative cerebral infarction occurred in 3 patients. 1 patients was reoperated for bleeding. Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) assistance was used in 21 patients. Poor wound healing occurred in 2 cases and healed well after debridement. Follow-up of 2 to 20 months after discharge showed no internal mammary artery occlusion and 4 radial artery occlusions; no major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) occurred, and the survival rate was 100%. There was no significant difference in the above perioperative complications and follow-up endpoints between the two age groups. CONCLUSIONS By adjusting the order of bypass anastomosis and optimizing the preoperative evaluation method, radial artery combined with internal mammary artery can obtain better outcome early in TAR, and can be safely and reliably applied to elderly patients.
Aged ; Humans ; Radial Artery/transplantation* ; Coronary Vessels ; Coronary Artery Bypass/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Treatment Outcome

To investigate the clinical use of pi graft in total arterial revascularization and its outcomes, a retrospective analysis of 23 patients out of 1000 patients undergoing total arterial coronary bypass surgery with a pi graft between September 1994 and December 2004 was performed. In the selected patients for the management of triple vessel disease with middle diagonal/intermediate ramus disease such that a skip with the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) or radial artery (RA), the main stem of pi graft, to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) will not work and the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) or right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) cannot pick up the diagonal/intermediate ramus, hence the LAD and diagonal/intermediate ramus were grafted with a mini Y graft using the distal segment of LIMA, RIMA, RA or RGEA, together with the bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) or LIMA-RA T graft to compose pi graft. Twenty-three patients (18 males, 5 females) underwent the pi graft procedure. There were no deaths or episodes of myocardial infarction, stroke, and deep sternal wound infection. One patient required reopening for controlling bleeding. Until the end of 2004, during a mean follow-up of 81.0 +/- 28.4 months, no angina needing re-intervention or operative therapy or coronary related death occurred. In conclusion, in patients with specific coronary artery anatomy/stenosis, the BIMA (sometimes LIMA with RA or RGEA) pi graft can be successfully performed for total arterial revascularization with good midterm outcomes.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures/methods ; Coronary Artery Bypass/*methods ; Coronary Disease/surgery ; Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis ; Myocardial Revascularization/*methods ; Radial Artery/*transplantation ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Although pulmonary artery catheters are useful to monitor hydration, these devices may be associated with severe morbidity and are not routinely used in kidney transplantation. A central venous pressure (CVP) catheter is preferred rather than a pulmonary artery catheter. Noninvasive continuous blood pressure monitors may substitute for intraarterial catheters, thereby preserving the radial artery in kidney transplantation patients should it be needed later to create an arteriovenous fistula. If there is a relationship between central venous and radial arterial blood for acid-base (pH, BE, HCO3(-)), we can use the blood sample from a CVP catheter instead of arterial blood from aradial artery catheter for testing acid-base and it can help patients. METHODS: A central venous catheter and radial artery catheter was inserted in 67 patients while undergoing kidney transplantation. To assess arteriovenous differences in acid-base status at operation start, before reperfusion of the transplanted kidney, after reperfusion, we measured the pH, BE and HCO3(-) simultaneously from the arterial and central venous circulation. RESULTS: Aacid-base using arterial and central venous samples at operation start, before reperfusion and after reperfusionb was evaluated. We found the relationship as follows: pH between arterial (pHa) and central venous blood (pHcv) in each: linear regression equation; pHcv = 0.668 + (0.906 X pHa), pHcv = 0.225 + (0.965 X pHa), pHcv = 0.646 + (0.908 X pHa), determination coefficient; 0.908, 0.926, 0.888, P values < 0.001 in each period. Base excess (BE) between BEa and BEcv in each period: linear regression equation; BEcv = 0.483 + (0.952 X BEa), BEcv = 0.032 + (0.939 X BEa), BEcv = 0.008 + (0.954 X BEa), determination coefficient; 0.844, 0.954, 0.962 P values < 0.001 in each period. HCO3(-) concentration between HCO3(-)a and HCO3(-)cv in each period: linear regression equation; HCO3(-)cv = 2.434 + (0.937 X HCO3(-)a), HCO3(-)cv = 2.093 + (0.942 X HCO3(-)a), HCO3(-)cv = 1.755 + (0.954 X HCO3 a), determination coefficient; 0.950, 0.925, 0.932 P values < 0.001 in each period. CONCLUSIONS: The acid base status of arterial blood is similar to that of central venous blood. Central venous blood gas values (pH, BE, HCO3(-)) may be an acceptable alternative to arterial blood gas values in kidney transplantation patients.
Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Central Venous Pressure ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Linear Models ; Pulmonary Artery ; Radial Artery ; Reperfusion

The feasibility and safety of total arterial coronary revascularization with 2 arterial conduits in patients with impaired left ventricular function was evaluated. Data were prospectively collected on all patients with multiple vessel discase and moderately or severely impaired left ventricular function, who underwent coronary surgery with the intention of total arterial revascularization with 2 conduits between March 1995 and August 2002. One hundred and seventy-nine patients were included in the study. Acute coronary insufficiency was present in 3 patients and 43 had unstable angina. Severe left ventricular impairment was present in 29 patients. There were 17 redo operations including 3 redo-redo procedures. Eighty-two percent of patients had a Y graft configuration from the left internal mammary artery (right internal mammary artery 40.8%, radial artery 33.5%, other 7.8%). The perioperative mortality was 2.2%, myocardial infarction 1.7% and stroke 0.6%. Total arterial revascularization in patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction can be safely performed with 2 arterial conduits. The radial artery provides conduit length greater than the right internal mammary artery and allows full revascularization despite left ventricular dilatation.
Angina, Unstable/complications ; Angina, Unstable/*surgery ; *Coronary Artery Bypass/methods ; Prospective Studies ; Radial Artery/*transplantation ; Vascular Surgical Procedures/methods ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/etiology ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/*surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of radial artery recurrent branch of the styloid process bone flap transfer for treatment of scaphoid nonunion.

METHODSFrom 2002 to 2007, 18 patients with scaphoid nonunion included 12 males and 16 females with an average age of 31.2 years old ranging from l8 to 51 years. Time from injury to operation was 8 to 26 months (averaged 12.5 months). Radial bone flap blood supply by radial artery recurrent branch of styloid process was embedded in retrograde scaphoid shift distance at both ends, Kirschner wire fixed on the bone flap and bone fractures, and the radial styloid process was resected. Cast gypsum immobilization in a neutral place of wrist were performed for 6 to 8 weeks, the rehabilitation of physical therapy and functional exercise were performed after removal. Kirschner wire were removed after X-ray showed fracture healing.

RESULTSAmong them, 15 cases were followed-up for from 8 to 25 months (means 13 months). All fractures healed. The healing time was 8 to 12 weeks. According to adult forearm fracture evaluation of Anderson the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 1.

CONCLUSIONThe radial artery recurrent branch of styloid process bone flap has a wealth of blood circulation, can make free grafting of the creeping substitution process directly into the healing process.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Ununited ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; Scaphoid Bone ; injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Temporal Bone

OBJECTIVETo examine the degree of intimal hyperplasia and the prevalence of atherosclerosis in radial arteries taken from the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to analyze the risk factors to obtain some helpful information for choosing arterial conduits.

METHODSForty-one radial arteries and 11 internal mammary arteries samples were collected. The average age of patients was 48.5 years, and they all were male. Intimal hyperplasia, atherosclerosis, medial calcification were evaluated by routine histological methods, and the severity of diseases was measured on the percentage of luminal narrowing and the intima-to-media ratio (the intima area/media area). The risk factors for coronary heart disease were also analyzed.

RESULTSNinety-three percent (38 of 41) of radial arteries showed mild intimal hyperplasia, which was not regarded to influence blood flowing after CABG. As a part of them, 54% (22/41) of radial arteries had a lower than 25% of luminal narrowing, meanwhile 39% (16/41) of radial arteries had the percentage of luminal narrowing between 25% and 50%. Only 7% (3 of 41) of radial arteries were found to have occlusive lesions, which made arterial lumen decreased more than 75%. The 3 patients including 2 with severe atherosclerosis and another 1 aged 17 years was involved by fibromuscular dysplasia. The later vessel was discarded after harvesting. The percentage of luminal narrowing and the intima-to-media ratio were higher in radial artery than that in internal mammary artery (t = 3.00, 2.49, P < 0.05). The two parameters were positively correlated with age (r = 0.398, 0.310, P < 0.05), but this study failed to show any relationship between intimal hyperplasia of radial artery and coronary lesions and other risk factors. Medial calcification was not found by routine histological method in all cases.

CONCLUSIONOnly mild intimal hyperplasia and no medial calcification are found in radial arteries used for CABG in the patients. Because the risk factors could not yet predict the severity of radial arterial lesions, this study strongly suggests that the Doppler ultrasonography and pre-operation clinical consideration should be emphasized to screen out some arteries with occlusive lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; pathology ; transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; pathology ; transplantation ; Risk Factors ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Tunica Media ; pathology

OBJECTIVEThe radial artery differs from internal mammary artery in its vascular biology and long-term patency after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study was designed to investigate their ultrastructural differences that may have implications in arterial remodeling and graft failure.

METHODSThirty-four radial artery and 11 internal mammary artery samples were obtained from patients underwent CABG, and subjected to routine electron microscopic examination. A semi-quantitative method was used to evaluate secretary endothelial cells, endothelial denudation, synthetic smooth muscle cells (SMCs), matrix accumulation, lipid deposition and medial submicroscopic calcification.

RESULTSCompared with internal mammary arteries, the radial arteries had more secretory endothelial cells (47.1%, 16/34 vs 27.2%, 3/ 11) and synthetic type SMCs in a background (14.4% vs 0.9%) that had more intimal lipid deposition and matrix accumulation (14.7%, 5/34 vs 9.1%, 1/11). Matrix vesicles and calcifications were frequently present in the media of both types of arteries. The calcifications, however, could not be visualized by routine histological stains, and therefore, named as submicroscopic calcification in this study. Fewer endothelial denudations were observed in the radial arteries, but no differences in medial lipid deposition and submicroscopic calcification were observed between these two types of arteries. The ultrastructural features and the arrangement of medial SMCs in radial arteries were similar to those of internal mammary arteries.

CONCLUSIONSRadial arteries have a higher SMC proliferative potential and more actively secretory status of endothelial cells, which may enhance the remodeling process and correlate with a decreased long-term patency. Better preservation of endothelial cells in radial arteries could be attributed to the "no touch" technique utilized in surgical harvesting. The significance of submicroscopic medial calcification during graft remodeling requires further investigations.

Calcinosis ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Coronary Disease ; pathology ; surgery ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; transplantation ; ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Radial Artery ; transplantation ; ultrastructure ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; ultrastructure