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

• Main Authors: Nikolaos A Papakonstantinou, Nikolaos G Baikoussis, John Goudevenos, George Papadopoulos, Efstratios Apostolakis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia
• Subjects: Coronary artery bypass grafting; Graft patency; Myocardial revascularization; Saphenous vein; Venous grafts
• Online Access: http://www.annals.in/article.asp?issn=0971-9784;year=2016;volume=19;issue=3;spage=481;epage=488;aulast=Papakonstantinou

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.