Memorial Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Endoscopic Vein Harvesting
Procedure Overview
What is endoscopic vein harvesting?
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery requires the creation of a blood vessel graft using healthy tissue taken from another part of the body. Often, the graft comes from the saphenous vein of the leg.
Until recently, the saphenous vein graft was harvested via a long incision that would run down the length of the patient’s inner thigh and/or calf. Now, however, it is possible to harvest the vein using a minimally invasive method that causes significantly less pain and tissue damage. This method is known as endoscopic vein harvesting.
What happens during the procedure?
To perform endoscopic vein harvesting, the surgeon makes anywhere from one to three small incisions in the leg. Each incision is only about an inch long, which is just enough room for the insertion of an endoscope (a thin, hollow tube fitted with a tiny light and a video camera). Using the endoscope, the surgeon can see inside the leg and insert microscopic instruments that can sever and remove the portions of the vein that are needed in order to construct the graft.
Benefits of the Procedure
Because endoscopic vein harvesting is less traumatic to the tissue, patients experience far less postoperative pain, scarring and other complications. Another advantage is that patients may begin their postsurgical cardiac rehabilitation with greater ease.
Please note that some patients may not qualify for the endoscopic vein harvesting method. Prior to your coronary bypass operation, your surgeon will discuss the risk factors involved in your case and the pros and cons of the different surgical techniques that are available.
Online Resources
The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
This page contains links to other websites with information about this procedure and related health conditions. We hope you find these sites helpful, but please remember we do not control or endorse the information presented on these websites, nor do these sites endorse the information contained here.
- American College of Cardiology
- American Heart Association
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Library of Medicine
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Click here to view the Online Resources of Heart Center.
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