Endoscopic vs open vein-graft harvesting for CABG procedures

Editor's Note

No significant difference was found between endoscopic and open vein–graft harvesting in the risk of major adverse cardiac events, in this study.

This analysis of 1,150 patients in 16 Veterans Affairs cardiac surgery centers found that during a median follow-up of 2.78 years, the primary outcome of a composite of major adverse cardiac events occurred in 89 patients (15.5%) in the open group and 80 patients (13.9%) in the endoscopic group.

Among the findings:

• 8% of the open group and 6.4% of the endoscopic group died.
• Myocardial infarctions occurred in 5.9% of the open group and 4.7% of the endoscopic group.
• Revascularization occurred in 6.1% of the open group and 5.4% of the endoscopic group.

Further studies are needed to establish standards for harvester expertise to ensure patient safety and procedure effectiveness, the authors say.