Functional properties of the saphenous vein harvested by minimally invasive techniques

Background. Since surgical techniques affect the functional properties of the vessel wall, the present study investigated the influence of minimally invasive harvesting techniques on the vascular reactivity of the saphenous vein. Methods. Saphenous vein remnants were obtained after aortocoronary bypass operation from patients subjected to conventional (n = 6), mediastinoscope-assisted (n = 4), or endoscope-assisted venectomy (n = 5). After preservation in University of Wisconsin solution (UW), ring preparations were mounted in a standard organ bath setup and concentration-response curves were constructed for phenylephrine, sodium nitroprusside, and acetylcholine. Results. Saphenous vein reactivity was not altered after preservation in UW. For the vein preparations harvested by means of the three venectomy methods, no differences were demonstrated for responses to KCl, phenylephrine, or sodium nitroprusside. The maximal endothelium-dependent acetylcholine-induced dilation of precontracted vein rings varied between 5% and 12%, independent of the surgical technique applied. Conclusions. It was demonstrated that minimally invasive surgical techniques for harvesting the saphenous vein, which are developed to reduce postoperative complications at the site of explantation, did not affect the vascular reactivity in a different manner than the conventional method.