Is postoperative calcium channel blocker therapy needed in patients with radial artery grafts?
Author(s): Gaudino M, Luciani N, Nasso G, Salica A, Canosa C, Possati G Affiliation(s): Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mgaudino@tiscali.it Publication date & source: 2005-03, J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg., 129(3):532-5. Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial BACKGROUND: Chronic calcium channel blocker therapy has traditionally been considered necessary in patients carrying a radial artery graft, even in the absence of objective data to support it. This report was conceived to evaluate the angiographic and clinical effects of calcium channel blocker therapy during the first postoperative year. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: A total of 100 consecutive patients who received a radial artery graft at our institution were randomly assigned to receive (n = 53) or not receive (n = 47) calcium channel blocker therapy with oral diltiazem 120 mg/daily started in the early postoperative period. At 1-year follow-up, all patients were reassessed clinically
