Minimally Invasive Great Saphenous Vein Harvesting

Current techniques for saphenous vein harvesting, whether for coronary artery bypass or for peripheral bypass procedures, typically require a long leg incision, or a skin bridging or interrupted incision. To determinate if saphenous vein can be removed with a minimally invasive technique. we have performed a saphenous vein harvesting using an endoscopic procedure in 26 patients. This minimally invasive operation is quick. safe and easy. By using a 5 mm endoscope inserted in the saphenous vein channel, a gentle and atraumatic isolation of the vein is obtained with a dramatic reduction in the invasiveness, because of the continuous and direct visualisation of the vein during the harvesting procedure. This method avoids a long leg incision, that can results in significant patient pain and postoperative wound complications, and can decrease the postoperative morbidity in vascular and cardiovascular surgery.