Post radial artery harvest hand perception: postoperative 12-month follow-up results

The 12-months' follow-up results for radial artery harvest in relation to complications are reported and compared with the postoperative 3-months' results. The postoperative wound problems of 155 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with radial artery harvesting were assessed using a questionnaire at 3 and 12 months after surgery. The questionnaire contained 9 statements concerning hand and forearm problems in daily life. The answers were graded in 7 levels. An answer of higher than grade 3 (mild symptoms) was regarded as a significant symptom. No hand ischemic complications was observed. In the 12 month-study, 152 patients (98.1%) were normal. Hand pain and numbness occurred in 25 patients (16.1 %) and 33 patients (21.3%), respectively, at 3 months and were markedly improved at 12 months (pain: 13 (8.4%), p = 0.045, numbness: 20 (12.9%), p = 0.069). Total scores for all questions also significantly decreased at 12 months (10.2 +/- 3.5) compared with 3 months (11.1 +/- 3.9) postoperatively (mean +/- SD, p = 0.0003). Radial artery harvest was quite acceptable from the patient's perception, although a few patients had numbness and pain in the 3 months after surgery. Those complications significantly improve in the later postoperative phase.