title: Predischarge angiographical evaluation of radial artery graft harvested by endoscopic harvesting system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endoscopic radial artery harvesting (ERAH) has superior cosmetic advantages over conventional harvesting methods. With instrumental advancements, these techniques have become easier to adopt and require less time to learn. In most reported cases, the quality of harvested conduits is discussed based on macroscopic and histologic examinations and clinical outcomes. However, predischarge angiography gives a straightforward answer regarding quality of harvested conduit. The aim of this study is to assess the quality of endoscopically harvested radial artery by predischarge angiographic evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic procedure using VasoView 4 system was performed in 87 patients between September 2004 and December 2007, and 78 predischarge angiographical evaluations were completed and reviewed. Mean age of the patients was 66 ± 10 years and 18% were women. After ERAH was performed, accompanying veins were dissected by ultrasound scalpel. All conduits were as aortocoronary bypass under cardiopulmonary bypass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean arm ischemic time was 32 ± 13 minutes and length of harvested conduit was 17.8 ± 1.3 cm. Predischarge angiography demonstrated two occlusions at the proximal anastomosis in the 51st and 71st cases, although intraoperative flow study showed normal flow patterns in both cases. Stenosis in the conduits was observed in the first, sixth, and seventh cases. No further angiographical problems were found in the remaining conduits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the angiographical results, problems with the harvested conduits occurred only in initial period. ERAH with VasoView system provides satisfactory angiographical quality after initial learning curve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nagasaki Kouseikai Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan. ccfsoccer2002@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Etsuro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suenaga
authors.forename: Shugo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Toshirou
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katayama