Patency rates of endoscopically harvested radial arteries one year after coronary artery bypass grafting

Objective: To improve patients' acceptance of the radial artery as a graft for coronary revascularization, we introduced an endoscopic harvesting technique. The aim of this study was to assess graft quality one year after the operation. Methods: 50 patients underwent endoscopic radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting between March 2004 and July 2005. At a one-year follow-up, 64-slice computed tomography, ECG and echocardiography were performed to assess LV function and graft patency. Additionally, influencing factors of radial artery graft patency were evaluated. Results: All over endoscopic radial artery graft patency was 72% (36/50) one year after coronary revascularization. Personnel factors, patient factors, graft properties, medication and target territory did not influence patency rates of the radial artery graft. The only significant and strong parameter to predict graft patency was the severity of target vessel stenosis. In patients with a target vessel stenosis ≥90%, radial artery graft patency was 90.3% (28/31). Conclusion: Patency rates one year after endoscopic radial artery harvesting are comparable to the conventional technique. We recommend the endoscopic harvest as the technique of choice to harvest the radial artery. The radial artery should only be used as a graft to anastomose coronary arteries with a stenosis ≥90%.