title: Ultrasound mapping of the long saphenous vein in coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: Long saphenous vein is the most common conduit utilized for surgical coronary revascularization. Ultrasound-assisted vein assessment is superior to traditional clinical examination of the long saphenous vein in discerning path and suitability for use as a conduit. Preoperative ultrasound mapping of the long saphenous vein is easy and rapidly accomplished allowing optimal surgical site selection, avoiding unnecessary surgical dissection and potential wound complications. We describe the technique of ultrasound mapping of the long saphenous vein and its application to conduit harvest in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK. drsoo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MacGowan
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
keywords: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery; Long saphenous vein; Saphenous vein harvest; Vein mapping