Forearm Problems after CABG Using Radial Artery Grafts

There have been many reports radial artery grafts (RA) are useful in CABG, but there were very few reports about hand grasping power (GP), edema and sensory disturbance after surgery. From January to April, 1999, RA were used for 14 patients (R group) and were not in 16 patients (C group) among a total of 30 coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. The patients in the two groups were statistically similar. RA were anastomosed to #12 in 9 patients and #14 in 5. GP and the circumference of forearms were examined and sensory disturbance was also checked preoperatively and at 1, 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. In both groups, left GP decreased slightly after surgery but gradually recovered. Four weeks after surgery, it was 26.2±9.6kg in the R group and 26.2±7.5kg in the C group (NS). The difference between left and right circumference of forearms, which indicates the degree of edema, was significantly larger in the R group than in the C group (3.5±3.6mm vs. -0.5±3.8mm, 1 week postoperatively, p