May Distal Coronary Pressure Measurement taken from Anastomosed Radial Artery Grafts Predict Early-Term Graft Patency?

Background: Visual estimates on angiography are inaccurate in assessing the functional significance of a coronary stenosis. Severity of stenosis in the native coronary artery is critical to both the short and long-term patency of the radial artery. Materials and Methods: A one hundred patients were selected. Radial artery is used for all patients. After all distal anastomoses are done and the systolic blood pressure reached over 100 mmHg, we have made arterial pressure measurement from the proximal side of radial artery graft. Results: All patients were followed-up. Serial postoperative coronary angiographies were performed at the first six postoperative months. There was no death in the first postoperative six months follow-up. We have detected ten radial artery graft occlusions and string sign. Five right coronary artery, four circumflex artery and one diagonal artery radial artery grafts occluded. The percentage of systolic aortic and coronary pressure measurement (C/Ao-s %) on occluded graft patients was ranged from 81 to 97. Percentage of diastolic aortic and coronary pressure measurement (C/Ao-d%) was ranged from 83 to 90. Percentage of mean aortic and coronary pressure measurement (C/Ao-m%) was ranged from 84 to 95. Conclusion: We concluded that we can predict of radial artery prognosis based on the severity degree of coronary artery stenosis. We have found ten radial artery grafts occluded. Unfortunately ten radial artery measurements are not enough for establishing a reliable cut-off value. We need more studies for creating a cut-off value determination.