Abstract
To investigate the chronic consequences of radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass surgery on the forearm circulation. Thirty-nine patients submitted to radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass were submitted to serial Echo-Doppler evaluation of the flow and morphology of the forearm arteries until 10 years follow-up. The peak systolic velocity of the ulnar artery of the operated side was significantly higher than the control site. The intima-media thickness of the ulnar artery was always significantly higher on the operated side, and this difference reached statistical significance at 10 years follow-up. There was a significantly higher prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in the ulnar artery (UA) of the operated versus control arm (11/39 vs 0/39; p=0.005). Radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass surgery leads to a chronic increase in ulnar flow accompanied by increased intima-media thickness and accelerated atherosclerotic disease. These findings may have potentially important implications for surgical indications and patients management.
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