title: Unilayer Closure of Saphenous Vein Incision Lines is Better than Bilayer Closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine early results in patients with incision lines closed only along the skin and subcutaneous tissue after removal of the great saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 82 patients who underwent elective operations in our clinic between December 2008 and April 2009. The patients had similar demographic characteristics, and the method of incision closure was chosen randomly. Three patients were excluded due to in-hospital mortality. The saphenous incision lines were closed using continuous skin sutures in 41 patients (Group 1) or using continuous subcutaneous sutures followed by continuous skin sutures in 38 patients (Group 2). Patients were followed every day that they were in the hospital, in the first week after being discharged, and at the end of the second month after discharge. The incision lines were evaluated for hematomas, infection, edema, pain and numbness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up performed in-hospital and in the first week after discharge, infection, edema and numbness were observed significantly more often in Group 2 than in Group 1. Hematoma was observed more often in Group 1, and pain was observed more often in Group 2, but neither of these findings reached statistical significance. During the follow-up at the end of the second month after discharge, infection, edema, and numbness were observed significantly more frequently in Group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients undergoing saphenous removal using standard procedures, it is sufficient to close the incision line using only skin sutures.
authors.affiliation: Bursa Yuksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tiryakioglu
authors.forename: Tugrul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goncu
authors.forename: Gunduz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yumun
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Selma Kenar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tiryakioglu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozyazicioglu
authors.forename: Senol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yavuz