Endoscopic vessel harvesting

What is endoscopic vessel harvesting?

Endoscopic vessel harvesting begins with a small, 2 cm incision into the patient's leg, close to the knee. The clinician inserts a vessel harvesting system into the incision and uses it to dissect the saphenous vein. The vessel harvesting system then infuses CO2 gas into the tunnel, which provides the necessary space for the clinician to harvest the greater saphenous vein.

Once the vein is separated from the surrounding tissue, the clinician then uses the vessel harvesting system to retract, cauterize, and divide tributaries to the saphenous vein that will be harvested. Once this is completed, the vessel is harvested intact and removed from the patient's leg. The harvested vessel is then used as a graft that the surgeon sews in place to bypass the blocked coronary artery.

What is traditional vessel harvesting?

Traditional vessel harvesting procedures require a long incision or a series of incisions down the length of the patient's leg, from the groin to the ankle. The greater saphenous vein is harvested intact through this large incision. The harvested vessel is then used as a graft that surgeons sew in place to bypass the blocked coronary artery.

What are some of the potential benefits of endoscopic vessel harvesting procedures?

When compared with conventional open vessel harvesting procedures that require a long incision down the patient's leg, endoscopic vessel harvesting procedures were associated with:

·         reduced wound complications

·         reduced wound infections

·         reduced pain

·         reduced improved cosmesis