Assessment of collateral blood flow and exclusion criteria
Adequacy of collateral ulnar circulation in the non-dominant hand was
preoperatively assessed with a modified Allen’s test and a Doppler study
(17-19). Those found to have incomplete palmar arch or inadequate
collateral blood flow were not enrolled. Additional assessment of
collateral flow was also done intraoperatively using a digital oxygen
saturation probe. Excluded were from the study patients with chronic
renal failure already on dialysis or likely to require dialysis in the
future. Patients in whom the RA of the non-dominant has been used for
coronary angiography or other transradial catheterization procedure were
not included in order to avoid the risk of endothelial damage and RA
occlusion (20-21).