title: [Endoscopic harvesting of saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass operations].
abstract: The great saphenous vein is the most commonly applied conduit in coronary bypass surgery during the treatment of ischaemic heart disease. Regarding the increasing age of patients, multiple comorbid factors and poor patient's general state, the minimally invasive approach is of basic significance during these operations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of study was to evaluate the possibilities of endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting and the quality of saphenous veins harvested endoscopically.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors applied the endoscopic approach for saphena harvesting in 24 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery or combined bypass surgery with valve reconstruction. Ten of the harvested veins were sent for histologic examination to evaluate the structure of the endothelial layer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No wound complications were noted with the endoscopic approach. The harvested veins were used as conduits during surgery except for 2 cases, where the calibre of the vein was too small to apply. The histologic examination revealed normal structure of the endothelial layer in all of the 10 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endoscopic approach can be used in the harvesting of saphenous vein during coronary bypass surgery. For the time being, the apply of this approach is restricted by the longer operation time, which hopefully would be reduced in the future.
authors.affiliation: Zala Megyei Kórház Szívsebészeti Osztály Zalaegerszeg Zrínyi M. u. 1. 8900, Hungary. vi.banderas@freemail.hu
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vígh
authors.forename: Aref
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.forename: Nasri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alotti
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sipos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017546:Angioscopy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods