Development of a criterion of radial artery aceptibility for coronary artery bypass grafting

A number of the functional tests, including the reactive hyperemia test, cold test, and the nitroglycerin test, were performed for the in vivo evaluation of the tonic responses of radial artery (RA) (n = 60). The changes in the arterial diameter, blood flow, and Kernogan index (the ratio of wall thickness to diameter of the lumen) were studied in RA ultrasonically. In over half of cases (58.8%), the results of the reactive hyperemia tests showed that RA was capable to increase the lumen diameter and blood flow by 23% and 100%, respectively, in response to blood flow increase. The study of the neurogenic regulation of the vascular tone showed stable contractile reactions of RA in response to cold test (59.9%) with 1.5fold reduction in blood flow. Prolonged vasospams, lasting more than 5 minutes, positively correlated with Kernogan index values exceeding 0.5. Kernogan index values less than 0.5 corresponded to the acceptable function of the examined RA suggesting that the artery was well suited for grafting. Data of the nitroglycerin tests showed that, in the majority of cases (88.3%), RA dilatation and 2.5fold blood flow augmentation were achievable by using the pharmaceutical agents.