Reduction in wound morbidity rates following endoscopic saphenous vein harvest

To determine whether less-invasive saphenous vein harvest reduces morbidity in patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass, we retrospectively compared 6 1 patients undergoing endoscopic harvest (ENDO) with 49 patients undergoing conventional harvest (OPEN) over the past 13 months. Patients were classif ied as potential short-stay if adjunctive suprainguinal inflow procedures o r foot amputations were not required and the patient was ambulatory prior t o elective operation. Mean endoscopic harvest time was 50 +/- 18 (range 25- 90) min, and no more than three 5-cm incisions were required in 87% of case s. Szilagyi class II or III wound complications occurred after 1 of the 61 (2%) ENDO procedures and 7 of the 49 (14%) OPEN (p < 0.01), and any complic ation occurred in 13 (21%) vs. 25 (51%) of ENDO and OPEN procedures, respec tively (p < 0.002). Mean postoperative length of stay was significantly sho rter in the 24 short-stay ENDO (4.0 +/- 2.4 days) vs. 25 short-stay OPEN (6 .0 +/- 3.2 days) patients (p < 0.02). Thirty-day patency rates between the two groups were not different. Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest is associa ted with a reduced incidence of serious wound complications and, in selecte d patients, shortened postoperative hospital stay.