Functional properties of the saphenous vein harvested by minimally invasive techniques

Background. Since surgical techniques affect the functional properties of t he vessel wall, the present study investigated the influence of minimally i nvasive harvesting techniques on the vascular reactivity of the saphenous v ein. Methods. Saphenous vein remnants were obtained after aortocoronary bypass o peration from patients subjected to conventional (n = 6), mediastinoscope-a ssisted (n = 4), or endoscope-assisted venectomy (n = 5). After preservatio n in University of Wisconsin solution (UW), ring preparations were mounted in a standard organ bath setup and concentration-response curves were const ructed for phenylephrine, sodium nitroprusside, and acetylcholine. Results. Saphenous vein reactivity was not altered after preservation in UW . For the vein preparations harvested by means of the three venectomy metho ds, no differences were demonstrated for responses to KCI, phenylephrine, o r sodium nitroprusside. The maximal endothelium-dependent acetylcholine-ind uced dilation of precontracted vein rings varied between 5% and 12%, indepe ndent of the surgical technique applied. Conclusions. it was demonstrated that minimally invasive surgical technique s for harvesting the saphenous vein, which are developed to reduce postoper ative complications at the site of explantation, did not affect the vascula r reactivity in a different manner than the conventional method. (C) 2000 b y The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.