A modified method of harvesting radial artery conduit for use in coronary bypass surgery is described. Extrafascial harvesting reduces the incidence of conduit spasm during harvest and after grafting. The muscular branches are of adequate size to be ligated with silk without using clips. Whether there is any difference in long-term graft patency rates between extrafascial and intrafascial harvesting needs to be evaluated.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ReyesATFrameRBroadmanRF. Technique for harvesting the radial artery as a coronary bypass graft. Ann Thorac Surg1992;54: 652–60.
2.
RamasubrahmanyamGRaoKC VenkateswaraRaniG UshaRaoI MadhusudhanaRaoD Prasada. Radial artery in coronary bypass grafting. Ann Thorac Surg1996;61: 771–7.
3.
AngeliniGDIzzatMBBryanAJNewbyAC. External stenting reduces early medial and neointimal thickening in a pig model of arteriovenous bypass grafting. J Thorac Cardiovasc Sug1996;112: 79–84.