Experience with the radial artery graft for coronary artery bypass.

Forty-eight radial artery grafts and 22 saphenous vein grafts in 37 patients undergoing coronary bypass procedures were studied early postoperatively. Most of the saphenous vein grafts were patent, but one-half of the radial artery grafts were occluded. Failure of the radial artery grafts could not be attributed to unfavorable runoff in the recipient vessels. Radial arteries carrying higher flows and those to vessels having more severe degrees of proximal stenosis occluded with a higher frequency. The radial artery should not be used for coronary bypass.