Harvesting conduits

Abstract

The saphenous vein graft (SVG) remains the most commonly used conduit for circumflex, right coronary, and diagonal coronary grafts and is used in approximately 90% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in the United States. Vein graft failure, however, remains a persistent disadvantage of the SVG compared to arterial conduits. Up to 15% of SVGs occlude within the first year and up to half are occluded by 10 years. Vein graft failure has serious clinical consequence as studies have found SVG occlusion to be associated with the need for repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction, and death. Consequently, much research has been dedicated to identifying causes of increased rates of vein graft failure, particularly whether the method of harvest affects SVG patency.