Comparative study of harvest-site complications following coronary artery bypass grafting between the radial artery and the saphenous vein in identical patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the early outcome for complications associated with the radial artery harvest site, in comparison to using the saphenous vein, in patients harvested for both vessels.

Methods: During the last 2 years, 134 radial arteries were used in 133 patients, and the saphenous vein was also concomitantly used in 94 patients. We assessed the post-harvest forearm perception using a questionnaire that contained two statements regarding pain and numbness in those 94 patients. The incidences of the harvest-site hematoma and infection were also compared between both the arms and legs where the grafts were harvested.

Results: Numbness of the harvest site was indicated in 26.6% (radial artery) and 33.0% (saphenous vein), respectively (P = 0.4252). Hematoma was found in 6.4% and 12.8%, respectively (P = 0.2152). On the other hand, the incidences of pain and wound infection were significantly lower in the radial artery sites (pain: 1.1% vs 23.4%, P = 0.0002; infection: 2.1% vs 11.7%, P = 0.0182).

Conclusions: Our early experience suggests that the use of the radial artery is safe and also demonstrates a lower incidence of harvest-site complications than saphenous vein harvesting in patients where both vessels are used as harvest sites.