Novel no touch technique of saphenous vein harvesting: Is great graft patency rate provided?
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Published on: January 15, 2017
Nikolaos A Papakonstantinou1, Nikolaos G Baikoussis2, John Goudevenos3
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Ioannina, School of Medicine, 45500 Ioannina; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Athens "Evangelismos'', Athens, Greece.
Insights
A novel "no touch" harvesting technique significantly improves saphenous vein graft patency in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. This method revives the saphenous vein as a viable alternative to traditional grafts.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Vascular Biology
- Surgical Techniques
Background:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery alleviates myocardial ischemia.
- Left internal thoracic artery (LITA) grafts offer excellent long-term patency (90-95% at 10 years).
- Traditional saphenous vein (SV) grafts have lower patency rates (around 50% at 10 years).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel
- no touch
- harvesting technique for saphenous vein grafts.
- To compare the patency rates of SV grafts harvested with the "no touch" technique against standard grafts and LITA grafts.
Main Methods:
- Harvesting of saphenous veins using the "no touch" technique, preserving surrounding tissue and endothelium.
- Surgical implantation of these grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting procedures.
- Assessment of short- and long-term graft patency rates.
Main Results:
- The "no touch" harvesting technique maintains the integrity of the saphenous vein endothelium.
- Significantly improved short- and long-term graft patency rates were observed with the "no touch" SV grafts.
- Patency rates achieved with "no touch" SV grafts are comparable to those of LITA grafts.
Conclusions:
- The "no touch" harvesting technique represents a significant advancement in preparing saphenous vein grafts.
- This technique enhances SV graft durability and patency, making it a competitive alternative to LITA grafts.
- Saphenous vein grafts, when harvested using the "no touch" method, can be effectively revived as a primary conduit in CABG surgery.
Abstract:
Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery effectively relieves signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia. The left internal thoracic artery (LITA) graft is the gold standard having 90-95% patency rate at 10 years, whereas only 50% of saphenous vein (SV) grafts are patent at 10 years. However, there is a novel "no touch" technique in order to harvest an SV complete with its cushion of surrounding tissue, thus maintaining its endothelium-intact. Significantly superior short- and long-term graft patency rates comparable to LITA grafts can be achieved. Consequently, the SV may be revived as an important conduit in coronary artery bypass surgery.
