title: Endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting: minimally invasive video-assisted saphenectomy.
abstract: A technique of greater saphenous vein harvesting for coronary artery revascularization using an endoscopic approach is herein detailed. The saphenous vein is directly identified at the knee through a single incision. An endoscopic dissector is advanced proximally and distally along the course of the vein, ligating side-branches with clips. The vein is divided at the ends of dissection, dependent on patient anatomy, by either a counterincision, endoscopic clips, or ligation with an Endo-loop.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgical Research Center, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Cable
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dearani
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*