HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lutz, C. W. Articles by Beyersdorf, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lutz, C. W. Articles by Beyersdorf, F.

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 12, 519-521, Copyright © 1997 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery

ARTICLES

Minimal-invasive, video-assisted vein harvesting for cardiac and vascular surgical procedures

CW Lutz, C Schlensak, G Lutter, J Schollhorn and F Beyersdorf
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany. lutzch@ruf.uni-freiburg.de

Harvesting of the saphenous vein is a routine procedure in coronary and peripheral vascular surgery. It is usually performed using a continuous long skin incision. Minor complications are reported in up to 24% (hematoma, wound dehiscence, infection, pain) and major problems necessitating surgical interventions (bleeding, abscess) in less than 1%. These complications lead to a prolonged hospital stay. To reduce these complications we have used a new endoscopic, video-assisted technique in 17 patients. Harvesting of the total length of the saphenous vein is possible with only one 2-3 cm long incision proximally the knee joint. We conclude that this technique is safe, may reduce the morbidity of saphenous vein harvesting and is associated with a perfect cosmetic result.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Beyersdorf, C. Lutz, and J. Schollhorn A retrospective audit of long-term lower limb complications following leg vein harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., January 1, 2004; 25(1): 143 - 143. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J.R. Dalrymple-Hay, A. Alzetani, R. Costa, and S. K. Ohri Endoscopic vein harvesting with the aid of carbon dioxide insufflation Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2001; 71(2): 739 - 741. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Lehmann, J. Lang, U. Weisse, and J. Boldt Pneumoperitoneum secondary to endoscopic harvest of saphenous vein graft Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 2000; 69(6): 1937 - 1938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]