Forearm and Hand Function after Radial Artery Harvest for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Subjective Patients' Assessment.

Background: As arterial myocardial revascularization is proved to provide great results, radial artery use as a graft and its consequences remain an important issue.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate how patients assess their forearm and hand function after radial artery harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: 50 patients (mean age 52.2 ± 7.4 years) who underwent CABG at least 6 months (median follow up 11.75 months) earlier filled in a questionnaire concerning hand and forearm efficiency and discomfort.

Results: The global efficiency of the operated upper extremity was scored mean 8.87 ± 1.26 points on a 10-point scale and it was worse in patients who noticed at least one sort of disorder than in patients with no problems (8.6 ± 1.4 versus 9.4 ± 0.7 points; P = .04). Paresthesias were the most often reported disorders; 21 patients felt some tingling and/or numbness, but in only 14 (28%) could the symptoms be considered as related to the operation. 20 patients (40%) declared that they felt some scar-related discomfort. Reduced grip strength and excessive hand fatigue were reported by 20% and 10% of patients, respectively. None of those interviewed answered that symptoms reported affected his or her life activity on any level.

Conclusion: The hand and forearm efficiency after radial artery harvest for CABG was highly evaluated by the majority of patients. Despite the fact that many patients reported some surgery-related problems, they did not notice extremity dysfunction that could limit their life activity.