Despite good outcomes, the use of the radial artery as a coronary graft is not widespread. Concerns regarding its low versatility and the risk of hand ischaemia, as well as the lack of reliable information regarding the best storage solution of the graft, and regarding the treatment for preventing spasms have limited its use. In this manuscript, the (numerous) benefits and (few) drawbacks of the proximal inflow for the radial artery from the in situ right internal thoracic artery proximal stump are discussed. Outcomes are reported from a limited series of patients undergoing totally arterial myocardial revascularization using this composite graft and both internal thoracic arteries.
Keywords: Arterial grafts; Coronary artery bypass grafting; Off-pump surgery; Radial artery; Totally arterial myocardial revascularization.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.