Does routine use of the radial artery increase complexity or morbidity of coronary bypass surgery?

Background. Despite increasing data supporting its use, the uptake of radia l artery coronary bypass grafting by most surgeons remains low. This may pa rtly be from perceptions that it increases risk or complexity of coronary s urgery. Methods. Data on 151 patients who had radial grafts are compared with 179 c oncurrent nonrandomized controls that underwent conventional surgery using saphenous vein. Additionally, telephone interviews were conducted on 127 ra dial recipients to assess subjective outcome. Results. Cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times were similar in both groups (72 versus 74 minutes and 20 versus 22 minutes). Morbidity was compa rable (mortality 1% versus 2%; cerebral vascular accident 1% versus 2%; ste rnal infection 1% versus 2%; resternotomy 4% versus 6%). Of 127 patients co ntacted, 41 (32%) reported that they had experienced parasthesia, and 65 (5 1%) reported numbness related to radial harvest; of these, 75% reported the ir symptoms as resolved or resolving. Early angiography performed in 36 pat ients revealed a radial patency rate of 92%. Conclusions. Concerns about increased morbidity and mortality should not hi nder adoption of radial artery grafting, (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoraci c Surgeons.