title: Open clip-free radial artery harvesting with the harmonic shears.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel is associated with several advantages in radial artery (RA) harvesting. It allows fewer hemostatic clips to close the collateral branches, less thermal injury of the conduit, and reduced time of harvesting in comparison with the conventional RA harvesting technique with electrocautery and hemostatic clips. We recently started open RA harvesting with the harmonic shears (HSH). In this study, we aimed at evaluating the feasibility of this simplified ultrasonically activated harvesting technique, and report the results of RA harvesting with HSH.
  
  
  METHODS
  The RA harvesting with HSH was performed in 20 patients operated on for myocardial revascularization from July 2004 to December 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The harvest of the RA was completed in little time, without any complication. Neither bleeding from the collateral branches nor spasm alongside the entire length of the RA was observed. No bleeding occurred from the muscles of the forearm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique of RA harvesting with HSH is impressive in terms of short time of harvest, complete absence of clips for the collateral branches, and no thermal injury of the conduit.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Campus of Campobasso, C.da Tappino, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canosa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nasso
authors.forename: Carlo Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: De Filippo
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Modugno
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spatuzza
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alessandrini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D014654:Vascular Patency