Reoperation for stenotic saphenous vein bypass grafts without cardiopulmonary bypass or shunt

From October 1982 through February 1985, six patients have undergone seven reoperative revascularization procedures for stenosis of coronary artery vein bypass grafts without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass or intraoperative shunt. All patients had prior coronary artery saphenous vein bypasses, ranging from 2 months to 5 years preoperatively. All patients survived reoperation and there was no morbidity. Patients have been followed-up to 26 months. One patient underwent postoperative cardiac catheterization at 1 year, which revealed a patent interposition graft, and one patient had a second operation for restenosis of a vein graft. To decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality in reoperative procedures for saphenous vein graft stenosis, a technique is described that avoids the use of cardiopulmonary bypass or intraoperative shunt. This technique has been used successfully for seven reoperative revascularization procedures and is recommended for selected cases.