Benefits of endoscopic vein harvesting

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the benefits of endos copic saphenous vein harvesting (EVH) with the traditional incision techniq ue (TIT) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in respect to the techn ical procedure and clinical outcome. In a prospective nonrandomized, case-m atched study the greater saphenous vein was harvested for CABG in 22 patien ts using the endoscopic technique and in 18 patients with the traditional m ethod. Comparisons were made for the operating time, length of incision and vein harvested, graft quality, postoperative complications, and pain asses sment. Patient demographics were well matched. EVH required smaller incisio ns than did the TIT (10.5 +/- 6.6 vs. 31.2 +/- 7.8 cm, respectively; p < 0. 0001). Harvest time and vein quality were comparable in the two groups. Tot al vein operating time was shorter following the endoscopic technique (60 /- 24 vs. 100 +/- 35 minutes, respectively; p < 0.0001). EVH had fewer comp lications (NS), and postoperative pain was significantly less (p = 0.0034). The major advantages of endoscopic vein harvesting are a significant reduc tion of postoperative pain and strikingly better cosmetic results. Wound co mplications seem to be less frequent.