Interrupted incisions versus traditional single incision for great sapheous vein harvesting / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize the experience of great saphenous vein (GSV) harvesting using multiple interrupted cutaneous incisions and retrospectively compare the clinical results with those using traditional single long incision. Methods One hundred and forty-nine patients for initial elective coronary artery bypass grafting underwent GSV harvesting by either interrupted incisions (Group A, n=108) between August 2004 to October 2005 or traditional technique (Group B, n=41) between February 2004 and July 2004, respectively. The Length of GSV harvested, total incision length, time of harvesting, and complication rate were compared between the two groups. Results There were no statistical differences in the age, sex, length of GSV harvested, and macroscopic GSV quality between the two groups. Short- or long-term complications relating to the quality of venous grafts occurred in neither groups. As compared with the Group B, the Group A presented significantly longer time for GSV harvesting (49.3?6.6 min vs 29.1?5.4 min; t=17.490, P=0.000), shorter incision length (17.8?3.2 cm vs 43.1?4.9 cm; t=-36.878, P=0.000), and lower wound-related complication rate [9.3% (10/108) vs 22.0% (9/41); ?2=4.303, P=0.038]. The time for donor site manipulation was slightly increased in the Group A (62.4?8.7 min vs 59.8?6.9 min; t=1.718, P=0.088). Conclusions GSV harvesting using multiple interrupted incisions requires more complicated and difficult techniques than using a single long incision, but it is less invasive and produces superior patient satisfaction and better cosmetic outcomes.