Abstract
Background: This study was done to compare between the use
of the radial artery and the great saphenous vein when they are used
as conduits for the obtuse marginal artery during coronary artery
bypass surgery.
Methods: 60 patients in need for coronary artery bypass surgery
were included in this study (CABG). The left internal thoracic artery
(LITA) was used regularly as a conduit for the left anterior descending
artery (LAD) in all of them. The radial artery (RA) was used as a
conduit for the obtuse marginal artery (OM) in 30 patients, and in the
other 30 patients the great saphenous vein (SVG) was used to graft the
obtuse marginal artery. Both of them (the radial artery and the great
saphenous vein) were used as aortocoronary bypass. All the patients
were assessed for the primary outcomes as postoperative bleeding,
reopening, arrhythmia, low cardiac output, angina, myocardial
infarction, ICU stay, wound complications, hospital stay and death.
Electrocardiogram and echo was done for all patients 2 weeks, 3
months and 6 months after surgery.
Results: There is no myocardial infarction, angina, and
postoperative electrocardiogram and echo abnormalities in both
groups. Postoperative bleeding was more common in the radial artery
group, and leg wound infection was more common in saphenous vein
group.
Conclusion: Short term results of both (the radial artery and
SVG) are the same when they are used as conduits to bypass lesions in
the obtuse marginal artery during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.
More studies are needed to assess the long term results.