Diameter, Vessel Thickness and Angle of Bifurcation of the Radial Artery in Ethiopian Cadavers

Abstract

Introduction: The basic knowledge about the morphology, variation, diameter, and wall thickness of the radial artery is very important for clinicians to make precise decisions in matters such as performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using catheterization. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study involving the dissection of 78 upper limbs (39 right, 39 left) of the cadavers of 18 adult females and 21 adult males in the age range between 25 and 77 years old whose radial artery and its branches were exposed. The measurement of the radial artery was taken at its origin from the brachial artery at the cubital fossa and at the wrist joint. Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the internal diameter of the right radial artery at the wrist joint was 2.79 ± 1.10 mm, and the mean ± (SD) of the internal diameter of the left radial artery at the wrist joint was 2.66 ± 0.94 mm. The paired samples t -test showed that this difference was not statistically significant (t-test [t] [degree of freedom (df) = 38] = 1.19; p -value = 0.24). The mean ± SD of the left internal diameter of the radial artery at the wrist joint was 2.56 ± 1.06 mm in males, and 2.77 ± 0.80 mm in females. This difference was also not statistically significant (t [df = 37] = -0.68; p = 0.12). There was also no significant difference in vessel thickness and in the bifurcation angle either between the left and right limbs or between genders. Conclusion The diameter of the radial artery in the Ethiopian population is comparable to that of other populations, and its size is adequate for the most commonly used radial catheters.