동맥경화증 위험인자와 요골동맥 병리소견과의 상관 관계

Abstract

Patency of the radial artery plays an important role in the survival of radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap and artery conduit of coronary artery bypass graft procedure. Even though Allens’ test has been used for evaluating the patency of radial artery, the studies on the correlations between risk factors for atherosclerosis and histopathologic findings of radial arteries are rare, until now. Therefore, the authors investigated the correlations between these two factors, and tried to estimate the feasibility of the radial artery in high-risk groups for artherosclerosis. The risk factors for atherosclerosis and lipid profiles were investigated in 38 patients by history taking, physical examinations and blood analysis. And 38 cases of segments of vessel were harvested during the elevation of the flap. The degrees of vessel medial sclerosis were estimated by R values(by Kobayashi and colleagues) that is the median value between the thickness of the intima and that of the media. The measured mean R value was 0.210+/-0.05. Thirty one cases belonged to Grade I(R<0.25), 7 cases belong to Grade II(0.25In conclusion, the radial artery in the radial forearm flap demonstrate no significant narrowing of the lumen due to medial or intimal thickening and radial artery can be used in conduit of coronary arterial bypass graft or forearm free flap regardless of the risk factors of artherosclerosis.