Saphenous vein harvest with SaphLITE system versus conventional technique: a prospective, randomized study.

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvest (MIVH) techniques have yielded varied outcomes.
• Evaluating MIVH efficacy for postoperative leg wound healing and pain is crucial.
• The SaphLITE retractor system represents a specific MIVH approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of the SaphLITE retractor system for MIVH.
• To compare postoperative leg wound healing and pain between SaphLITE MIVH and conventional open vein harvest (OVH).
• To determine the impact of MIVH on wound healing disturbance rates.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 225 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
• Patients were assigned to either SaphLITE vein harvest (SVH) or conventional open vein harvest (OVH).
• Outcomes included leg wound healing disturbance (LWHD) rates, harvest time, pain, and hospital stay.

Main Results:

• SVH resulted in significantly shorter total leg wound length (18.33 cm vs 46.10 cm) but longer harvest time (50.70 min vs 40.35 min) compared to OVH.
• Combined LWHD rate was significantly lower in the SVH group (20.8%) versus the OVH group (41.2%).
• Delayed LWHD rate was substantially reduced with SVH (16.0% vs 39.5%). No significant differences in pain or hospital stay were observed.

Conclusions:

• Harvesting saphenous veins with the SaphLITE retractor system is effective.
• The SaphLITE system is associated with a reduced rate of delayed leg wound healing disturbances.
• Venous structural integrity is preserved, and harvest speed is acceptable with the SaphLITE MIVH technique.