Proximal superficial temporal artery to proximal middle cerebral artery bypass using a radial artery graft: an anatomic approach.

We present the use of radial artery graft for bypass of the proximal superficial temporal artery to the proximal middle cerebral artery. Six adult cadaver sites were used bilaterally. After apterional incision, 2x2-cm minicraniectomy was performed which began 2 cm behind the zygomatic process of the frontal bone. The superficial temporal artery was transsected before exposing the zygomatico-orbital artery branch. The proximal side of the radial artery graft was anastomosed end-to-end to the proximal superficial temporal artery and the distal side end-to-side to the proximal middle cerebral artery. The mean calibers of the proximal superficial temporal artery and largest trunk of the middle cerebral artery were 2.25+/-0.35 mm and 2.3+/-0.3 mm, respectively. The average graft length was 85+/-5.5 mm. We conclude that such bypasses are simpler than proximal middle cerebral artery revascularization using long vein grafts. This method proves that the caliber of the proximal superficial temporal artery is more suited to providing sufficient flow than the distal superficial temporal artery, and the graft is short. Such bypasses to the middle cerebral artery may be an alternative to those from the distal superficial temporal artery or extracranial carotid artery.