title: Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvest with the SaphLITE system.
abstract: The method of harvesting the greater saphenous vein (GSV) through a long continuous incision is associated with a number of well-documented wound complications and significant postoperative pain. A randomized trial was developed to examine the outcome of standard harvesting techniques versus a minimally invasive harvesting technique using the SaphLITE system. Two hundred elective coronary artery bypass-graft patients were randomly placed into either a traditional saphenous vein harvest group (control) or a minimally invasive SaphLITE harvest group (study). Postoperative wound complications, patient discomfort, and length of follow-up were studied. Wound complications were greater in the control group compared with the study group (P < 0.025). Patient discomfort was markedly reduced in the study group. The postoperative follow-up was also reduced by an average of 8 weeks in the study group. The minimally invasive harvest of the greater saphenous vein with the SaphLITE system markedly reduced wound complication, patient discomfort, and length of postoperative follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of North Texas, Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, USA. ao-yurvati@unt.hsc.edu
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: O-Yurvati
authors.forename: Adriane K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*