title: Endoscopic versus open saphenous vein graft harvest for lower extremity bypass in critical limb ischemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endoscopic vein harvest (EVH) has been demonstrated to improve early morbidity when compared with conventional open vein harvest (OVH) technique for infrainguinal bypass surgery. However, recent literature suggests conflicting results regarding mid- and long-term patency with EVH. The purpose of this study is to compare graft patency between harvest techniques specifically in patients with critical limb ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study compared two groups of patients (EVH = 39 and OVH = 49) undergoing lower extremity revascularization from January 2009 to December 2011. Outcome measures included patency rates, postoperative complications, and wound infection. Graft patency was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were matched for demographics and indications for bypass (critical limb ischemia). Median follow-up was 22 months. There was a significant reduction in the incidence of wound infection at the vein harvest site in the EVH group (OVH = 20%; EVH = 0%; P < .001), nevertheless, the difference was not significant when only the anastomotic sites were included (OVH = 12.2%; EVH = 15.4%; P = .43). The hospital length of stay was comparable between the two groups (EVH = 8.73 ± 9.69; OVH = 6.35 ± 3.28; P = .26) with no significant difference in the recovery time. Primary graft patency rate was 43.2% in the EVH group and 69.4% in the OVH group (P = .007) at 3 years. The most common reason for loss of primary patency was graft occlusion (61.5%) in the OVH group and vein graft stenosis (54.5%) in the EVH group. The average number of vascular reinterventions per bypass graft was significantly lower in the OVH group compared with the EVH group (OVH = 0.37; EVH = 1.28; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate inferior primary patency when using the technique of EVH. Additionally, we identified a significantly higher rate of reintervention in the EVH cohort as well as a higher rate of vein graft body stenosis. However, EVH was associated with a decreased rate of wound complications with similar limb salvage and secondary patency rates when compared to OVH. EVH should therefore be selectively utilized in patients at high risk for wound complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Raymond E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Clinical Translational Science Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzman
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Ghassan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abu-Hamad
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Luke K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Leers
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. Electronic address: chaerra@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Rabih A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Chaer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D016638:Critical Illness; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007902:Length of Stay; D023821:Limb Salvage; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency