Impact of the learning curve for endoscopic vein harvest on conduit quality and early graft patency.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent studies have suggested that endoscopic vein harvest (EVH) compromises graft patency. To test whether the learning curve for EVH alters conduit integrity owing to increased trauma compared with an open harvest, we analyzed the quality and early patency of conduits procured by technicians with varying EVH experience.

Methods

During coronary artery bypass grafting, veins were harvested open (n=10) or by EVH (n=85) performed by experienced (>900 cases, >30/month) versus novice<100 cases, <3/month) technicians. Harvested conduits were imaged intraoperatively using optical coherence tomography and on day 5 to assess graft patency using computed tomographic angiography.

Results

Conduits from experienced (n=55) versus novice (n=30) harvesters had similar len

SUBMITTER: Desai P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4146432 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature