Delivery of recombinant adenoviruses to human saphenous vein

The human saphenous vein is the most commonly used conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting owing to its ready availability, ease of harvesting, and favorable surgical handling (1). However, it suffers from a progressive decline in patency, resulting in a graft failure rate of 50% after 10 yr (2,3). This high failure rate is caused by either early thrombosis occlusion, which occurs in the first year after graft implantation, or the later development of intimal thickening and superimposed atherosclerosis (1-3).