ABSTRACT
Allen Test This is the first screening test that should be performed on all potential patients.
The surgeon uses his thumb and fingers to compress the radial and ulnar arteries at the wrist. The patient exsanguinates the hand by making a fist several times and then opens the hand so that the fingers are in a relaxed and gendy extended posi tion. The examiner then releases pressure from over the ulnar artery. Capillary refill time in the hand is noted. A normal Allen test is refill in less than 5 seconds, and greater than 5 seconds indicates an abnormal Allen test. About 85-90% of patients will have a normal Allen test. If the test is normal, radial artery harvest can be per formed without further testing.
