[A reduction in the invasiveness during surgical revascularization: the harvesting of the great saphenous vein by a video endoscopic technic].
BACKGROUND
The authors report their preliminary experience of endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting as part of a program devoted to reducing the invasivity of surgical myocardial revascularization. This method allows us to minimize the cutaneous incisions in the inferior limbs necessary to harvest the saphenous vein, thus reducing the incidence of complications.


METHODS
The study includes 41 patients who underwent endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting from October 1998 to September 1999 and, as a control group, 20 patients with similar characteristics operated on with the traditional technique during the same period. The variables considered were: the time necessary to harvest the saphenous vein, the incidence of complications, and the postoperative mobilization.


RESULTS
All the endoscopically harvested grafts were adequate for the scheduled procedure. The only complication occurred in a patient operated on with the traditional technique. The time of harvesting and the day of mobilization were similar in the two groups. The reduction of surgical trauma allowed a fast deambulation recovery and better esthetic results.


CONCLUSIONS
When complete arterial revascularization is not feasible, the endoscopic harvesting of the required saphenous vein segment allows for a significant reduction in the invasivity of the procedure.
Terrini
A
A
U.O. Cardiochirurgia, Ospedale S. Chiara, Trento.
Graffigna
A
A
Martinelli
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000379:methods*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording / Q000295:instrumentation