Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Creating Radio-cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula in the Forearm with a Modified No-Touch Technique
Published on: April 1, 2022
Late haemodynamic and functional consequences of radial artery removal on the forearm circulation
Mario Gaudino1, Amedeo Anselmi, Michele Serricchio
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Background:
We aimed at evaluating the late haemodynamic and functional consequences on the forearm circulation of radial artery removal for coronary artery bypass grafting.
Methods:
Ten years after surgery we performed basal and stress echo-Doppler evaluation of the forearm circulation, baseline and stress transcutaneous oxymetry and determination of reactive oxygen metabolites in the operated and control arm in 20 asymptomatic patients submitted to radial artery removal.
Results:
The peak systolic velocity of the ulnar artery of the operated side was significantly higher than the control site. Transcutaneous oxymetry revealed asymptomatic hand ischemia at moderate level of muscular effort in the operated arm, but reactive oxygen metabolites measurement did not differ between the two arms.
Conclusions:
Even in patients with good ulnar compensation, radial artery removal leads to subtle degree of hand ischemia in conditions of sustained muscular effort. Although the clinical significance of this observation remains to be determined, this finding can have important implications for conduit selection in patients involved in manual activities.
Related Concept Videos
Arteries of the Upper Limbs
Assessment of radial pulse
The radial pulse, located at the wrist, is often the preferred site for assessing peripheral pulse because of its accessibility and dependability. The process of determining the radial pulse involves several steps:
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above the...
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care

