Decreased morbidity following long saphenous vein harvesting using a minimally invasive technique: a randomised controlled trial comparing two techniques for long saphenous vein harvest.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the morbidity associated with long saphenous vein harvesting using the traditional open technique (A) against a minimally invasive technique using the Mayo vein stripper (B) that involves multiple short incisions.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study in 80 patients undergoing first time coronary artery bypass grafting. Pain and healing was assessed on each postoperative day. Rings of long saphenous vein were subjected to organ-bath evaluation of endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxation.


RESULTS
Three patients were excluded from the study, leaving 38 patients in Group A and 39 in Group B. With respect to operative procedure, Group A had a greater length of vein harvested than Group B. There was no statistical difference in pain scores and endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent relaxation between the two groups. However there were significantly more infections in Group A compared with Group B.


CONCLUSIONS
Harvesting vein through multiple incisions using the Mayo vein stripper is quicker, results in fewer infections and has no deleterious effect on endothelial function compared to open technique.
Mahmood
Zahid
Z
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. zmahmood@doctors.org.uk
Al Benna
Sammy
S
Nkere
Udim
U
Murday
Andrew
A
D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing