What is the primary purpose of radial artery mapping?

The primary purpose of radial artery mapping is to determine the suitability of the radial artery as a graft for coronary artery bypass surgery. This process involves evaluating the anatomical and functional characteristics of the radial artery, ensuring it has adequate size, patency, and flow characteristics to function effectively as a graft.

When assessing the radial artery for potential use in bypass surgery, it is critical to ensure that the artery is healthy, has good blood flow, and can withstand the demands of being used as a bypass graft. A comprehensive mapping can include ultrasound imaging to visualize the vessel and assess its depth, diameter, and overall quality.

Although checking for aneurysms, assessing wall integrity, and measuring blood flow velocity are important evaluations of vascular health, they are not the primary focuses of radial artery mapping. Rather, the main aim is specifically to evaluate the radial artery's suitability for grafting purposes in coronary artery bypass procedures.