Skin Closure After No-Touch Saphenous Vein Harvest: Strategies to Minimize Wound Complications

ABSTRACT The no-touch saphenous vein with surrounding pedicle tissue harvesting technique preserved endothelium and vessel wall integrity and demonstrated improved long-term saphenous vein conduit patency that was comparable to internal thoracic artery conduit patency. Despite improved saphenous vein conduit patency rates, there is a possibility that no-touch saphenous vein harvest may increase wound complication rates by increased tissue disruption, including venous and lymphatic channels. Comprehensive strategies to minimize leg wound complications after no-touch saphenous vein harvest are discussed.

Techniques and Outcomes of the No-Touch Vein Conduit as a Y-Composite Graft

ABSTRACT Although the saphenous vein is a widely used conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting, revascularization using the saphenous vein as an aortocoronary bypass graft has shown disadvantages of lower long-term graft patency rates and subsequently worse clinical outcomes, compared with revascularization using the internal thoracic artery. Of the various efforts to overcome the limitations of vein conduit that are resulting from structural and functional differences from arterial conduit, recent technical improvement in no-touch vein composite graft construction and outcomes of revascularization using no-touch vein composite grafts based on the left internal thoracic artery will be discussed in this topic.

Early stage of atherosclerosis in aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts: intravascular ultrasound study

Abstract Introduction: Angiographically visible plaques in patent vein grafts are usually detected years after surgery. Our aim was to examine early plaque formation in vein grafts. Methods: Bypass angiography and intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) examination were performed on 77 aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) implanted in 36 patients during the first 2 years after CABG. In each graft, a good quality 25 mm ultrasound image was analyzed. We measured: plaque area, lumen area, external elastic membrane (EEM) area, graft area and wall area. For the comparative assessment of SVGs, the index plaque area/EEM area was calculated. Data were analyzed for the following 4 time periods: I - 0-4 months (22 grafts), II - 5-8 months (23 grafts), III - 9-12 months (19 grafts) and IV - 13-16 months (13 grafts) after CABG. Student's t and Fisher-Snedecor tests were used for the purpose of statistical analysis in this retrospective study. Results: In period I, plaque formation (neointimal) was observed in 10 grafts (45%), with a mean plaque area of 1.59 mm., in 6 grafts (26%) in period II, with a mean plaque area of 1.03 mm. and in 15 grafts (71%) in period III, with a mean plaque area of 1.41 mm., and in all (100%) grafts in period IV, with mean plaque area of 2,3 mm.. Average index plaque area/EEM area in periods I, II, III and IV were 0.12, 0.08, 0.13 and 0.22. We have showed a significant plaque increase between periods II and IV(P=0.038). Conclusion: IVUS showed plaque in about 40% of venous grafts during the first year after CABG. Between 13-16 months plaque was visible in all studied grafts.

Novel no touch technique of saphenous vein harvesting: Is great graft patency rate provided.

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.

Improved Preservation of Saphenous Venous Conduits by the Use of Papaverine mixed heparinized blood Solution during Harvesting.

Background: High-pressure distension during harvesting damages the saphenous vein (SV) and may contribute to subsequent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) occlusion. Application of vasodilator agents to the SV during harvesting may reduce the need for high-pressure distension and improve graft quality. We tested the effects of a vasodilator solution containing the conventional agent papaverine (Pap) mixed with heparinized blood on the pressure necessary to overcome SV spasm and on the structure. Methods: 150 patients undergoing CABG were nonrandomly allocated to receive an application of either intraluminal papaverine (Pap) mixed with heparinized blood(Group-A), or intraluminal heparin mixed normal saline(group-B) to the SV for distension during harvesting. The peak pressures required to distend the vein were recorded. Samples of SV were taken for microscopical analysis just before we performed the anastomosis. Results: The results for mean peak pressures (mm Hg) were: Normal saline 131.77±20.6 (range 85 to199 mmHg); and Papaverine mixed blood solution, 56.4±2.1 (range 40 to 90 mmHg); P<0.001, (Pap mixed blood solution versus normal saline); The results of histological study for endothelial injury were: Normal saline, 52.5 %; Papaverine mixed blood solution , 20%; (P<.02, untreated versus Pap mixed blood solution). Conclusions: Intraluminal use of Papaverine mixed heparinized blood solution during vein harvesting requires low distension pressure and improves endothelial coverage compared with the use of heparin mixed normal saline.