Endoscopic Harvest of Greater Saphenous Vein for Leg Artery Bypass

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The autologous greater saphenous vein (GSV) is the most frequently used graft for leg artery bypass. But vein harvesting with long open incision as traditional method can be complicated by wound problem. Since we experienced endoscopic vein harvesting in leg artery bypass, we reviewed its advantage and indication. METHOD: Six patients received the endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting procedure for their leg artery bypass surgery. The endoscopic procedure was limited above knee avoiding of the injury to saphenous vein because it has more branching at below knee. We studied endoscopic using time, number of branch ligated, wound closure time, wound complication, postoperative pain and admission duration. RESULT: In one patient the procedure was failed because many branch and small GSV. In five patients mean endoscopic using time was twenty two minutes and 2.2 branch was ligated. There was no wound complication. Wound closure time and operation time was decreased but the statistical variables difficult to decide. In one patient for redo operation, contralateral GSV was harvested. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic GSV harvesting is technically simple procedure, which can reduce wound size in using reversed way of GSV in leg artery bypass. We also believe it reduce operation time, wound pain, hospital stay. But it needs further study and skill in our study.