Neurological study of radial nerve conduction during endoscopic radial artery harvesting: an intra-operative evaluation

ABSTRACT

Endoscopic radial artery harvesting [ERAH] is a feasible and attractive minimally invasive approach for conduit procurement, however there have been concerns about a potential neurological damage occurring at the harvest limb site secondary to injury of the radial nerve during endoscopic harvesting. We present a case of ERAH in which we evaluated intraoperatively the characteristics of radial nerve conduction by means of electroneuromyography [ENM] during harvesting. No pathological changes of nerve conduction were detected at the harvest limb site during surgery and postoperatively, thereby supporting the benefits of the endoscopic approach in terms of neurological outcomes following radial artery procurements with a less invasive approach: