Radial Artery Graft for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Biological Characteristics and Clinical Outcome

The radial artery (RA) is gaining popularity as a bypass conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting, and its impact on clinical practice has been extensively explored. In the present article, we provide a review of postoperative hand circulation, vascular biological characteristics of the RA graft, the efficacy of vasodilator therapies, and mid-term clinical results of use of the RA graft. Fundamental studies revealed excellent vascular biological characteristics of the RA graft as a living arterial conduit, making it almost equivalent to the internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft. Clinical studies have yielded encouraging mid-term results. Most studies reported in favor of the RA graft over the saphenous vein graft with regard to patency rate, freedom from cardiac events, and survival. However, superiority of either the RA or right ITA graft has not been conclusively determined. The long-term results of RA grafts remain unknown, but at present, supplementary use of an RA graft with a left ITA graft appears feasible for CABG.