Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvest with the SaphLITE system

The method of harvesting the greater saphenous vein (GSV) through a long continuous incision is associated with a number of well-documented wound complications and significant postoperative pain. A randomized trial was developed to examine the outcome of standard harvesting techniques versus a minimally invasive harvesting technique using the SaphLITE system. Two hundred elective coronary artery bypass-graft patients were randomly placed into either a traditional saphenous vein harvest group (control) or a minimally invasive SaphLITE harvest group (study). Postoperative wound complications, patient discomfort, and length of follow-up were studied. Wound complications were greater in the control group compared with the study group (P < 0.025). Patient discomfort was markedly reduced in the study group. The postoperative follow-up was also reduced by an average of 8 weeks in the study group. The minimally invasive harvest of the greater saphenous vein with the SaphLITE system markedly reduced wound complication, patient discomfort, and length of postoperative follow-up.