title: Early Outcomes of Endoscopic Vein Harvesting during the Initial Learning Period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) method has been used in coronary artery bypass surgery in many countries. We started using the EVH method recently, and investigated the results during the early learning period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2012 and June 2014, 75 patients (31 patients in the EVH method group, and 44 patients in the open method group) who underwent isolated first-time coronary artery bypass grafting using vein grafts were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the early outcomes including graft patency and risk factors for leg wound complications. For assessing the patency of vein graft, we performed coronary computed tomography angiography during the immediate postoperative period and 6 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean harvesting time of endoscopic method was about 15 minutes. Patency rate during the immediate operative period and the 6-month patency rate were similar between the two groups (postoperative period: EVH 100% vs. open method 94.4%, p=0.493; at 6 months: EVH 93.3% vs. open method 90.9%, p=0.791). Leg wound complications occurred more frequently in the open method group (EVH 3.2% vs. open method 13.6%, p=0.127). According to the analysis, age was an independent risk factor for leg wound complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVH is a feasible method even for beginners and can be performed satisfactorily during their learning period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Do Yeon
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Hwan Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Gyun Hyun
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Joonkyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Coronary artery bypass; Endoscopic surgical procedure; Tissue harvesting; Vein