Comparative Study between the Use of the Radial Artery and the Saphenous Vein in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

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.