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Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Synergizing Antegrade Endoscopic with Bridging Vein Harvesting for Improvement of Great Saphenous Vein Graft Quality from the Lower Leg
Published on: November 19, 2019
Use of the No-Touch Saphenous Vein Harvesting Technique via Small Incisions
Ichiro Hayashi1, Ichiro Kashima2, Eiji Yoshikawa1
138074 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
There are substantial data in support of improved patency using the no-touch (NT) saphenous vein (SV) harvesting technique. However, wound complications correlated with such are more significant than those associated with the skeletonized technique. To solve this, we introduced the use of the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing device via small incisions. In this study, a cordless retractor with a built-in LED light source was utilized. The NT-SV graft was harvested with a pedicle of surrounding tissue approximately 5 mm in size and attached to the main trunk. The intima, tunica media, adventitia, and vasa vasorum appeared normal by histological analysis. Our technique combines the potential advantages of a minimally invasive endoscope approach using bipolar electrothermy and the improved patency of a NT-SV.
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