Abstract 16287: Effect of Transradial Catheterization on Patency Rates of Radial Arteries Used as a Conduit for Coronary Bypass

Abstract

Title: Effect of transradial catheterization on patency rates of radial arteries used as a conduit for coronary bypass. Objective: To assess the difference in radial artery graft patency between patients who had the same radial artery used for angiography prior to bypass compared with those who did not. At present there are numerous studies looking at radial artery occlusion in situ after catheterization however very few studies looking at patency of the radial artery when used as a graft for CABG. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent CABG at our institution in that past 15 years utilizing a radial artery graft (n= 570). Those who had subsequent imaging of the graft to evaluate patency by an angiogram or CT scan at any time were included for the study. 155 radial grafts were analyzed. The primary end point was evidence of occlusion at any point in follow up. Group A consisted of grafts in which the radial artery used for CABG had been utilized for angiography prior to CABG (n= 23). Group B consisted of grafts in which angiography was done via the femoral or contralateral radial approach (n= 132). Chi-square test was utilized to compare graft occlusion in these two groups. Statistical analyses was done using SPSS software. Results: The demographic characteristics of the patients in the two groups were similar. Occlusion of the radial artery graft was found to be more common in the group utilizing the same radial artery for angiography prior to CABG. The percentage of graft occlusion was 39 % (n= 9) in this group compared to 20 % in controls (n= 27). This difference showed a trend towards statistical significance with a p value of 0.05 Conclusion: Radial artery graft patency appears to be adversely affected by its utilization for angiography prior to CABG. Other patient, procedural and management dependent confounding factors may also affect graft patency and should be investigated in larger scale or randomized studies.