Abstract
To improve the patency rate of radial artery grafts, we have been using a skeletonized
harvesting technique since September 2000. Our early reports confirmed better graft
patency of skeletonized radial graft compared to conventional pedicled grafts. We
present the angiographic and clinical follow-up data on skeletonized radial artery
grafting. Between 09/01/2000 and 7/31/2002, a total of 268 patients underwent isolated
coronary artery bypass using skeletonized radial artery graft, excluding T-grafting.
Of these, 216 (80.6%) patients underwent postoperative angiography and their perioperative,
early angiographic, and follow-up results were analyzed. There was 1 hospital death
and 6 incidences of postoperative myocardial infarction. None were related to radial
artery bypass. Early angiographic control revealed that the stenosis-free graft patency
rate of radial artery anastomoses (318/331, 96.1%) was not significantly different
from other conduits (the left internal mammary artery 93.5%, right internal mammary
artery 90.8%, gastroepiploic artery 96.3%, and saphenous vein 97.6%). Follow-up was
completed for all hospital survivors with a mean follow-up of 1.6 ± 0.4 years. There
were no cardiac deaths, and 9 cardiac events, giving a cardiac event-free rate of
95.8%. The angiographical patency of the skeletonized radial artery was excellent.
Although cardiac events were minimal, follow-up mid-term angiographics will be necessary
to confirm our clinical outcome data.
