Prospective analysis of endoscopic vein harvesting.
BACKGROUND
Utilization of bridging vein harvesting (BVH) of saphenous vein grafts (SVG) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) results in large wounds with great potential for pain and infection. Endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) may significantly reduce the morbidity associated with SVG harvesting.


METHODS
A prospective database of 200 matched patients receiving EVH and BVH was compared. The patients all underwent CABG done over a period of 4 months (April to August 2000). Patients were excluded if they had prior vein harvesting.


RESULTS
The EVH and BVH group included 100 patients each with similar demographics. The patients in the EVH group had significantly fewer wound complications, mean days to ambulation, and total length of stay (P <0.05). There was no difference in harvest time or vein injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic vein harvesting results in significantly fewer wound complications, decrease in days to ambulation, and the total length of stay. EVH is superior to BVH in patients undergoing CABG.
Patel
A N
AN
Department of Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX 75246, USA.
Hebeler
R F
RF
Hamman
B L
BL
Hunnicutt
C
C
Williams
M
M
Liu
L
L
Wood
R E
RE
D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004434:Early Ambulation; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*