This document discusses saphenous vein harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It covers the anatomy of the saphenous vein, techniques for harvesting including open and endoscopic methods, tips for avoiding complications, and postoperative care. The saphenous vein is commonly used as a graft due to its accessibility and handling properties, though the internal mammary artery is preferred due to better long-term patency rates. Care must be taken during harvesting to avoid intimal injury, nerve damage, and ensure hemostasis and wound closure to prevent infection.

1. Saphenous Vein Harvesting
Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls
by
SA Mohamad Fadzly

2. Introduction
• Surgery for revascularization of the myocardium continues to be an
effective and lasting means of managing patients with multivessel
coronary artery disease
• Increasing popularity of PTCA and related interventional procedures:
o Atherectomy
o Intravascular Stents
• Not been a significant decrease in number of patients undergoing CABG
• CABG surgery continues to be one of the most commonly performed
surgical procedure

3. Conduit of Choice
The greater saphenous vein has been extensively used as a
conduit after internal mammary artery because :
• It can be procured conveniently
• Easy to handle
• An excellent inflow
Khonsari, Sintek (2007)

4. Internal Mammary Artery vs Saphenous Vein Graft
• Although the saphenous vein can remain patent for years,
the artherosclerosis is widely documented that using the
internal mammary artery as a conduit has gained much
prominence.
• IMA – conduit of choice
• Why?
 Appears to resist the development of atherosclerosis
 Has a higher late-patency rate than a comparable
saphenous vein graft

5. • Long-term follow up has definitely revealed significant
improvement in 10 years survival rates and a marked reduction in
the incidence of late cardiac events in patients who have
undergone left IMA bypass graft to the LAD coronary artery
• Internal thoracic arteries demonstrate better patency than
saphenous veins except when grafting moderately stenosed right
coronary arteries. When bypassing right coronary arteries with less
than 70% stenosis, saphenous veins may be a better choice.
Sabik, et all (2005)

6. Intra Operative Vessel Harvesting
• Anatomy of the greater saphenous vein
• Selection of vessel
• Positioning
• Prepping
• Draping
• Open (continuous) / Bridging Harvest Technique
• Preparation of the Vein
• Wound Closure

7. Greater Saphenous Vein - Anatomy
• The GSV originates from where the dorsal
vein of the first digit (the large toe)
merges with the dorsal venous arch of the
foot.
• After passing anterior to the medial
malleolus (where it often can be
visualized and palpated), it runs up
the medial side of the leg.
• At the knee, it runs over the posterior
border of the medial epicondyle of
the femur bone.
• The great saphenous vein then courses
laterally to lie on the anterior surface of
the thigh before entering an opening in
the fascia lata called the saphenous
opening.
• It joins with the other femoral vein in the
region of the femoral triangle at the
saphenofemoral junction.

8. The selection of SV is determined by :
• Age of patient
• Diabetes
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Varicosities
• Previous vein stripping
• Previous CABG

9. Preoperative Assessment
Assessment of risk factors :
Treadwell (2003)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Use of intra-aortic balloon pump

10. Diagnostic Tests
• Echocardiography ( evaluates heart structure and function )
• Ejection fraction / ventricular wall motion
• Cardiac catheterization report
• Labs report : (in particular but not limited to : WBC, HGB,
HCT)

11. Physical Assessment
History of :
• PVD
• Varicose veins
• Previous vein harvesting
• Previous vein stripping
• Deep vein thrombosis

12. Diagnostic Studies
Performed to determine the adequacy
of saphenous vein
• Doppler studies
• Venography
• Venous mapping ( done to locate the
saphenous vein )

13. Be Wise in Making
Judgement

14. Harvesting veins from lower limbs
with evidence of infection or
ulceration should be avoided if
possible
Skin Infection or Ulceration

15. Varicosities
• Saphenous vein with varicosities should
be avoided
• The walls of the vessels are abnormal
dilated and the caliber predisposes to
lower flow velocity and possibly early
thrombosis and occlusion will occur

16. Peripheral Vascular Disease
• A wound in the lower leg intends to heal
slowly, this is of particular significance in
the elderly diabetic patient with peripheral
vascular disease
• Handling of tissues and careful wound
closure are mandatory
• It is perhaps preferable not to harvest
veins from the lower legs of elderly
patients with diabetes or PVD

17. Prepping
• A shower with antibacterial soap the night before and the
morning day of surgery
• Hair is clipped from the patient’s anterior chest, bilateral
groins and bilateral medial legs a night before surgery
• After induction and positioning, skin scrubbing will be done
with beta solution, Povidone Iodine, it is include the anterior
chest from chin to groin, bilateral groins and bilateral legs,
circumferentially

18. Selection Length of the Vessel
Length of the vessel needed :
• Echocardiography to evaluates heart structures and LV function
• CXR – to measure any heart enlargement
• Coronary angiogram – to determines exact location of the coronary
blockaged
•Determined by the Surgeon
•Anterior coronary bypasses generally requires about 10 – 15 cm of
conduit
•Posterior bypasses proximately about 20 cm
•Lateral bypasses proximately about 15 cm

19. Positioning
• The supine position provides optimum
exposure for CABG
• Sterile soft linen should be place under
the thigh to provide good access during
procurement
• Legs should be slightly flexed and
externally rotated after prepping and
draping to provide good exposure of the
saphenous vein and femoral arteries for
insertion of intra-aortic balloon pump if
necessary

20. Draping
• The feet are wrapped with sterile towels or a stockinette
• The legs are flexed into a “frog-like” position
• A roll of sterile towels or sheets may be used to keep the legs
in the slightly flexed position
• The perineum is covered and a towel may be placed across
the umbilicus connected to the side drapes
• Cardiovascular drape is then placed over the patient

21. Saphenous Vein Landmarks
First constant anatomical landmark :
Arises anterior edge of the medial malleolus. It has a linear
course in the leg. It ascends vertically , posterior to the medial
border of the tibia and is accompanied by the leg branch of
the saphenous vein
Second constant anatomical landmark :
At the knee, the long saphenous vein travels posteriorly to the
lateral femoral condyle. It then travels superficially over the
medial region of the thigh , remaining parallel to the medial
edge of the sartorius muscle
Two nerves structured accompany the long saphenous vein :
1. The accessories nerve of the medial saphenous nerve
2. Anterior branch of the medial musculocutaneous nerve

22. Saphenous Vein Landmarks
Femoral Triangle :
The long saphenous vein forms an arch as it
penetrates into the depth of the thigh. It perforates
the cribriform fascia immediately above Allan Burn’s
ligament. This corresponds to a reinforcement or
fold of the cribriform fascia
Third constant anatomical landmark :
An arch of the long saphenous vein opens onto the
anterior surface of the femoral vein 4 centimeters
below the inguinal ligament

23. Saphenous Vein Harvest Methods
Methods :
• Open - Complete continuous open technique
- Interrupted bridging skin incision
technique
• Endoscopic

24. Open method
• If the vein from the lower leg is to be used, the initial skin
incision is made anterior to the medial malleolus
• If the upper portion of the vein will be used, the initial skin
incision is made in the groin. An incision is made one-to-two
fingerbreadths from the femoral artery pulse and the
subcutaneous tissue is dissected to expose the greater
saphenous vein
• The desired plane is accessed by blunt dissection with
scissors down to the level of the vein
• Skin and subcutaneous fat are undermined with scissors
(or tunneling with fingers if bridging), staying just superficial
to the vein and spreading the tips of the scissors over the
vein

25. Skin Incision Along the Knee
• The incision alongside the knee
joint is subjected to cause strain
and stretch in several directions
as the joint moves.
• This may give the patient
significant discomfort and
interferes with satisfactory
healing.
• Therefore, the skin in this
location is usually left intact

26. During the Procurement
• Creation of skin flaps should be avoided
• Care should be taken to preserve the saphenous
nerve
• The “no-touch” technique should be utilized. This
means handling the vein only by its adventitia
with atraumatic forceps, isolating the vein with
vascular band / tapes
• Remove the vein from its ‘bed’ by careful
dissection and division of its branches
• Tissue should be dissected around the vein
• All branches should be ligated. If bridging
technique is used, ligate the branches once the
vein is explanted

27. Try to Avoid

28. Try to Avoid Accidental Division of the Vein
With the aid of scissors the skin incision is extended over the index
finger, which has tunneled above and parallel to the saphenous vein.
This technique prevents accidental division of a more superficially
placed of the vein and eliminates the development of unnecessary
dead spaces or redundant skin flaps

29. Intimal Injury
• The vein must never be pulled or stretched to
facilitate dissection
• The intimal layer is very delicate and may tear
• It will rise a formation of platelet aggregation
and possible subsequent early occlusion of
the graft
• This is more likely occur when multiple skin
incisions are made and the vein has to be
harvested from beneath the skin bridges
Pulling or stretching vein injures the intima
Gentle retraction with elastic band

30. Nerve Injury
• The saphenous nerve runs along
the greater saphenous vein.
• Special care should be taken not
to accidently or divide it to avoid
postoperative paresthesia

31. PREPARING THE VEIN

32. • When adequate segment of vein
is dissected free, it is divided at
each end and removed
• The vein stumps in the groin and
the ankle are securely ligated
with 3/0 Ethibond tie

33. Localized Varicosities
• Localized varicosities can be
detected along the vein wall
when it is being gently distended
• They can be partially excluded by
the application of metal clips on
the redundant tissue parallel to
the vein wall Excluding a localized varicosities

34. Over Distension the Vein
• The vein graft should be gently
distended
• Any excessive pressure can result
intimal tear and disruption
• Try to prevent the intraluminal
pressure from exceeding 150 mmHg
• Gently applying a squeezing
technique from proximal to distal
end
Gently distending a vein

35. Branch Stumps
• The branches should be ligated or
clamped approximately 1 mm from
the vein wall to minimize the
presence of a stump, which may
predispose to thrombus formation
and early graft occlusion
• Any stump can easily be eliminated
by application of a fine metal clip
behind the tie parallel with the
vein wall
Leaving excess stump on a vein branch
A metal clips eliminate vein stump

36. Graft Narrowing
• Conversely, the tie or metal clip should never
occlude part of the vein itself
• This gives rise to localized constriction
• The tie or clip should be gently removed
• Applying pressure with a heavy needle holder
on the closed loop of the metal clip by separate
the two ends and facilitate its removal
• The tie or metal clip is placed or reapplied
appropriately
A clip constricting vein

37. Adventitial Constriction
• The adventitial tissue may at times
be caught in the tie around one of
the branches, creating a localized
constriction
• The adventitial should be carefully
divided with Pott’s scissors
Dividing the adventitial band to relieve constriction

38. Suturing the Vein Wall
• Sometimes, the wall of the vein at
the site of the avulsion of its
branches requires suture closure
• This can be accomplished by taking
longitudinal bites of the vein wall
with 7-0 or 8-0 Prolene when it is
being distended
• But the transverse suturing gives
rise to localized constriction
Transverse closure of an avulsed branch
leads to constriction of a vein

39. WOUND CLOSURE

40. • The leg wound is closed in layers
with absorbable sutures
• In the groin region or where the
wound is deep, an extra layer of
closure is necessary
• The skin is close with fine
absorbable suture material with
3/0 cutting needle in a
subcuticular manner

41. Interrupted Mattress Sutures
• Patients with diabetes and peripheral
vascular disease are prone to poor wound
healing and at risk of wound infection
• The wound must be closed atraumatically
without leaving any dead space
• Absolute hemostasis must be achieved
before closure begun
• Interrupted horizontal mattress
monofilament sutures that are left in place
until satisfactory healing has been completed,
usually for at least 2 to 3 weeks post-op

42. Wound Drainage
• If the wound is deep or continues
to ooze blood, closed-system
drainage for 24 hours should be
used
• This prevents hematoma formation
and possible deep wound infection

43. Interrupted Skin Incision
• In patients who are diabetic or
peripheral vascular disease are prone
to poor wound healing
• Multiple skin incision are made,
leaving intervening bridges of skin
intact
• This allow better closure of the
wound and minimizes ischemic
changes along the skin edges

44. Postoperative Assessment
(Evaluation of Postoperative Patient Outcomes)
• Assess lower extremities for nerve damage due to being
placed in the “frog-leg” position
• Post-operative bleeding – monitor dressing and wound for
excessive drainage and swelling
• Monitor for skin infection and ulceration

45. REFERENCES
• Khonsari, S., Sintek, C.F. (2007). Cardiac surgery safeguards and
pitfalls in operative technique (4th ed.) Los Angeles, USA: Walters
Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Sabik, J.F., Lytle, B.W., Blackstone, E.H., Houghtaling, P.L.,
Cosgrove, D.M. (2005). Comparison of Saphenous Vein and
Internal Thoracic Artery Graft Patency by Coronary System.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 79:544 –51.
Treadwell, T. (2003). Diagnostic dilemma : Management of Saphenous
Vein Harvest wound complications following Coronary Artery
Bypass grafting. Diagnostic Dilemma, 15(3), 83 – 91.

46. Thank You