Original research articleMidterm patency and risk factors for vein graft occlusion after endoscopic harvest

ObjectivesTo evaluate midterm patency of saphenous vein grafts harvested endoscopically and identify risk factors for subsequent vein graft occlusion.MethodsFifty consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery with venous graft harvested by endoscopic method were included in the study. Patients underwent computed tomography angiography follow-up at mean 24 months. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze associations between preoperative variables (age, ejection fraction, body mass index, gender, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, number of defects per graft and target vessel stenosis) and the incidence of saphenous vein graft occlusion.ResultsOcclusion of the saphenous vein graft occurred in 7 patients (14.3%) and occlusion of the left internal mammary artery graft in 1 patient (2.3%) during the 24 months after surgery. No significant stenosis (i.e. narrowing by >50%) was found in the remaining grafts. Multivariate logistic regression found no association between preoperative variables and saphenous vein graft occlusion.ConclusionsPatency rates 2 years after endoscopic vein harvesting are comparable to those from open techniques. Our data indicated no association between preoperative variables and vein graft occlusion. These results support the use of endoscopic saphenectomy in a wide spectrum of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.