‘No-touch’ saphenous vein harvesting improves graft performance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: A journey from bedside to bench

The saphenous vein is the most commonly used conduit in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery yet its patency is inferior to the internal thoracic artery. Vascular damage inflicted to the vein when using conventional harvesting techniques affects its structure. Endothelial denudation is associated with early vein graft failure while damage of the outermost vessel layers has adverse long-term effects on graft performance. While many in vitro and in vivo experimental studies aimed at improving vein graft patency have been performed to date no significant ‘bench to bedside’ advances have been made. Among experimental strategies employed is the use of pharmacological agents, gene targeting and external stents. A ‘no-touch’ technique, where the saphenous vein is removed with minimal trauma and normal architecture preserved, produces a superior graft with long term patency comparable to the internal thoracic artery. Interestingly, many experimental studies are aimed at repairing or replacing those regions of the saphenous vein damaged when harvesting conventionally. ‘No-touch’ harvesting is superior in coronary artery bypass patients with long-term data published 5 years ago. Here we describe a ‘bedside to bench’ situation where the mechanisms underlying the improved performance of ‘no touch’ saphenous vein grafts in patients have been studied in the laboratory.

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