title: Does minimally invasive vein harvesting technique affect the quality of the conduit for coronary revascularization?
abstract: The effect of minimally invasive great saphenous vein harvest on patient morbidity (wound infection and other healing disturbances) has been extensively investigated, yet its impact on the quality of the venous conduit is less well known. This study aims to review the literature with regard to macroscopic quality, postoperative myocardial infarction rates, and angiographic patency of the minimally invasive versus conventionally harvested vein using meta-analytic techniques where appropriate. Results suggest that conduits are comparable in macroscopic quality with minimally invasively harvested veins requiring more repairs prior to grafting. Postoperative myocardial infarction rates were not significantly different between groups, which is supported by the limited evidence on angiographic patency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Thanos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
authors.forename: Sukhmeet Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Panesar
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massey-Patel
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinross
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Purkayastha
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casula
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glenville
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*