The superficial palmar arch (SPA) of the hand is generally formed by the ulnar artery (UA) and superficial palmar branch of the radial artery (RA). Very rarely, however, the SPA is formed by the median artery (MA) and RA. This was termed the median-radial type (MRT) of SPA by Adachi in 1961 in Keen (Am. J. Anat. 108: 245-61). The recent use of the RA as a coronary artery bypass graft in myocard...

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced coronary artery disease. CABG surgery has been demonstrated to improve symptoms and, in specific subgroups of patients, to prolong life. Despite its success, the long-term outcome of coronary bypass surgery is strongly influenced by the fate of the vascular conduits used. Impressive long-term...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the new 5 Fr Glidesheath Slender (GSS). The transradial (TR) approach has become popular because of several advantages, such as a reduced rate of vascular access site complications. However, because the radial artery is narrow, a limitation of TR access is the potential for artery spasm or occlusion. Studies of radial artery si...

The transradial approach is safe and effective for coronary procedures. However, its use may be compromised in cases of variations in radial artery anatomy, spasms, and negative Allen's test. The transulnar approach emerges as a viable alternative to transradial approach. We report on a patient who underwent primary angioplasty via ulnar artery without ischemic hand complications despite prior ...

Background: The median nerve is one of the most important branches of the brachial plexus. Due to the role of the median nerve in sensory and motor innervation of the forearm and hand in the upper limbs, its blood supply is very important. Awareness of variations in the blood supply pattern to this nerve reduces the incidence of necrosis and ischemia of the nerve during surgical and diagnostic ...

Introduction Variations of the arterial patterns in the upper limb have been the subject of many anatomical studies due to their high incidence. Brachial artery is the main artery of the arm. It is a continuation of axillary artery at the lower border of teres major muscle. It usually terminates at the level of neck of radius in the cubital fossa by dividing into radial and ulnar arteries. The ...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to introduce a microvascular training model based on use of materials that can be easily obtained from the daily surroundings. METHODS Simple microinstruments and a medical school laboratory microscope were used for anastomosis training. Chicken blood vessels were used as a material for this study. A long segment of blood vessel from the proximal brachial ar...

BACKGROUND Local pulse pressure (PP) is an independent determinant of carotid artery wall thickness, stronger than mean blood pressure (BP). The present study was designed to assess whether a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist-based or an ACE inhibitor-based treatment was able to reduce carotid artery wall hypertrophy through a reduction in carotid PP rather than by lowering mean BP and whether the i...

Endothelial dysfunction, believed to underlie the structural changes of atherosclerosis, is a systemic phenomenon. Despite this, the radial artery has been considered as devoid of atherosclerosis and is commonly used as a conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Recently, histological study has shown intimal hyperplasia and other structural changes consistent with early atherosclerosi...

BACKGROUND Unsuccessful radial artery puncture is one of the important causes of transradial procedure failure. Ulnar artery compression made the radial artery pulse stronger. Whether it would make transradial access easier, however, is uncertain. METHODS A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted among 446 patients who planned for transradial cardiac catheterization. Patients we...