title: [Endoscopic vein harvesting. Impact of learning curve on results and rehabilitation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The tendency of modern surgery is towards the reduction of invasiveness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the learning curve, the reliability, the short term results and the advantages in terms of rapid rehabilitation of endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) in a consecutive series of 20 patients operated on of aorto-coronary bypass surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February and June 2005, 20 patients between 61 e 82 years of age underwent EVH with the use of Vasoview 5 (Guidant Corporation, Indianapolis, USA). To evaluate the impact of learning curve on the total operative time, patients were divided in 4 chronologically consecutive groups (G1, G2, G3, G4). Intraoperative characteristics and short term results were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean velocity and the mean time of harvesting in G4 were 0,68 cm/min and 45 min. respectively, similar to the time required for a scheletonized left internal mammary artery harvesting. In the first 5 patients 2 conversions were required, one of them related to the EVH technique. No bleeding, functional impairment or infective complications are reported. Active mobilization was possible in every case in the first post-operative day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVH is a reliable technique and the learning curve can be limited to the first 5 cases. The foreseeble reduction of infectious complications, the absence of pain and the immediate mobilization of the leg allow a rapid and effective rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Cardiochirurgia, Università degli studi di Genova, Italia. alessandropiccardo@vodafone.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccardo
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passerone
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods