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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Minimally invasive procurement of saphenous veins for coronary artery bypass grafting

Antônio S. Martins; Rubens R. Andrade; Marcos A. Moraes Silva; Reinaldo A. Oliveira; Nelson L. K. L Campos; Ricardo De Mola; Ademar R. Souza; Júlio Vidotto; Carlos Padovani

DOI: 10.1590/S0102-76382004000200009

INTRODUCTION

Minimally invasive surgeries are characterized by reduced surgical trauma and they are associated with smaller incisions. Both direct visualization and endoscopy can be employed [1]. General thoracic surgery has also benefited from minimally invasive methods [2]. In heart surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting is of great importance, both without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass or with reduced incisions. The saphenous vein is still a commonly utilized graft [3]; thus, minimally invasive methods for its procurement are desirable, as these techniques reduce surgical trauma and result in better esthetic results. The methods that utilize a totally endoscopy technique present advantages, as they only require one or two small incisions, allowing the removal of long segments of saphenous veins [4]. The disadvantages of these methods are the cost and the space used for the surgery that can delay the opening of the thorax. Methods of procurement under direct visualization can be as simple as the approach used by STAVRIDIS [5] or more refined with the use of special retractors [6].

Our aim was to compare procurement of saphenous veins by the minimally invasive method, under direct visualization and with the use of adapted retractors (Langenbeck) or with purpose-made retractors for this procedure (MINI-HARVEST ® - USSC-Cardiothoracic System, Newalk).

METHOD

From June 1996 to January 1999, 63 patients submitted to their first elective surgery of coronary bypass grafting had saphenous veins resected by a minimally invasive method under direct visualization. The first 30 patients of the series (Group1) utilized a method using two Langenbeck retractors. The remaining 33 patients (Group 2) underwent surgery using a method with MINI-HARVEST ® retractors that are specifically made for this procedure. The patients were evaluated in respect to age, gender, smoking, weight (overweight or obese), previous infarction, diabetes, time to remove the vein, necessity to revert to traditional resection method, infection and dehiscence at the suture, trans-operative infarction and death.

In the Group 1, using Langenbeck retractors and a light source, the incision was initiated near to the inguinal fold and the saphenous vein was dissected and isolated. A subcutaneous tunnel approximately 1/3 of the thigh was performed, where a new incision of approximately 3-4 cm was made. After dissection of this segment of vein, a new tunnel was created to near to the knee and so on successively until the length of vein was sufficient for the surgery. With the help of one assistant, the Langenbeck's retractors were positioned so as to enable visualization of the subcutaneous venous path (Figure 1A)



The branches were tied with LT 100Ethicon ligaclips ®.

In Group 2 the same method was used with the exception that no surgical assistant was necessary. (Figure 1 B).

The traditional method was used for the thoracic stage of the surgeries, that is, median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass using crystalloid or sanguineous cardioplegic solutions. Anastomosis of the left internal mammary arteries to the anterior interventricular artery was utilized in under 70-year-old patients. Patients were considered diabetics if their disease had previously been diagnosed and they were being treated, using oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin. Active smokers were all patients who continued to smoke during the month leading up to surgery. Overweight/obese patients were all the patients with at least 20% over the ideal weight for their age. Trans-operative infarction was considered if a new Q-wave appeared and or if there was an accentuated reduction in the R-wave. In this study hospital mortality was recorded. This study was assessed and approved by the Local Committee on Ethics in Research.

RESULTS

Table 1 summarizes the results referring to the participants of the two groups.



Table 2 summarizes the results referring to the utilized method.



COMMENTS

When comparing the two groups there was only a significant difference in the diabetes. (according to presented facts on list 1, the groups were distinct only if overweight/obese and not if diabetic). This might be explained by the fact that the patients were not randomly allocated to the two groups. Thus, at the beginning of our study, we used the minimally invasive method in diabetic and obese patients, that is, in those patients with a higher risk of evolving with infection or dehiscence of sutures.

With the increased experience and the use of the MINI-HARVEST® we started to utilize the method considering the esthetic results too, but even then always indicating patients with higher risks of complications. This can explain the greater number of overweight and diabetic patients when compared to the literature [7,8].

There were no significant differences between both methods in relation to the resection time of the saphenous vein. Even though no comparison was made, the time required by both these methods for saphenous vein procurement is greater than the traditional method, but there has been an improvement with experience. The mean time we obtained is in accordance with the literature [5,6]. The lengths of the extracted saphenous veins were similar in the two groups, compatible with an average of 2.5 grafts in each group. There was no difference in respect to the necessity to revert to the traditional method. The presence of an assistant in the Group 1 facilitated the approach, but the second generation of MINI-HARVEST®, enables excellent access to the vein inside of the subcutaneous tunnel. The greatest concern with the new methods is related to the integrity of the grafts, particularly to its endothelium. Some authors have evaluated its integrity using endoscopic methods and retractors similar to the MINI-HARVEST® and they concluded that these methods enable the resection of saphenous vein grafts with preservation of the endothelium [9,10]. We did not perform this type of analysis but based our assessment only on the incidence of trans-operative infarction and mortality; several factors are involved with this variable, such as the anastomosis technique, the distal coronary bed, the method of myocardial protection and the ventricular function. However, it is incontestable that a badly preserved or injured graft during resection is associated with a higher incidence of occlusion [11]. In this series we had one death in each group. In Group 1, the death occurred due to a brain stroke and in Group 2, due to low output syndrome in the postoperative period. There were no significant differences between the two groups in respect to these variables, with the values in harmony with those reported in the literature for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic protection [12].

We did not find significant differences in respect to the incidence of infection or dehiscence of sutures. There was only a superficial dehiscence in Group 1. Some authors [13-15] analyzed the presence of hematomas, edema and pain. We preferred not to do this, as these criteria are too subjective. Obviously the esthetic aspect is incontestable, the best results seen with minimally invasive methods (Figure 2). The degree of esthetic expectations varies from patient to patient and with their economic and social levels. We did not find any scoring system in the literature applicable to our population.



CONCLUSIONS

The minimally invasive method of saphenous vein procurement under direct visualization is as effective and safe both using traditional instruments adapted for this purpose and with retractors specifically manufactured for the purpose. The only advantage of the MINI-HARVEST® system is that it does not need the presence of an assistant.

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Article receive on Wednesday, October 1, 2003

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