Open clip-free radial artery harvesting with the harmonic shears.
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.
Canosa
Carlo
C
Cardiovascular Department, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Campus of Campobasso, C.da Tappino, Campobasso, Italy.
Nasso
Giuseppe
G
De Filippo
Carlo Maria
CM
Modugno
Pietro
P
Spatuzza
Paola
P
Calvo
Eugenio
E
Testa
Nicola
N
Alessandrini
Francesco
F
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