Evaluation of post-operative flow and diameter changes in brachial and ulnar arteries in coronary artery bypass surgery patients in which the radial artery was used as a graft

OBJECTIVE
The radial artery is widely used in coronary bypass surgery. In these patients, forearm and hand circulation is provided by the ulnar artery. This study aimed to investigate post-operative changes in flow and diameter in brachial and ulnar arteries in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery in which the radial artery is used as graft.

METHODS
Between September 2007 and September 2008, 20 patients (16 men, 4 women; mean age 57.8 years; range 44 to 70 years) underwent elective coronary bypass surgery at our clinic. The radial artery was used as graft in all cases. Pre-operatively, adequacy of the ulnar artery for forearm circulation was investigated by Allen test and duplex ultrasonography. Basal flow and diameter values of the brachial and ulnar arteries were measured. Control duplex ultrasound measurements were performed at three months post-operatively. Flow and diameter changes in the brachial and ulnar arteries were recorded.

RESULTS
Significant increase was shown in ulnar artery flow and diameter values in post-operative measurements. A significant increase was observed in brachial artery diameter, accompanied by a relative decrease in flow value. There were no mortality or ischemic complications in our study. Transient paresthesia as a neurological complication was observed in 4 patients.

CONCLUSION
Radial artery use for coronary bypass surgery leads to significant changes in ulnar and brachial arteries. All flow and diameter changes can be detected by color Doppler ultrasonography in the early stages. These adaptation mechanisms show that the radial artery can be safely harvested as graft material.