Endoscopic vein harvesting or Endovein is a new less invasive way of removing saphenous vein from a CABG ( Bypass heart surgery) requiring patient's leg for doing the bypass graft.
Traditional vessel harvesting procedures require a long incision or a series of incisions down the length of the patient's leg, from the groin to the ankle. The greater saphenous vein is harvested intact through this large incision.
Recent technological advances have made it possible to perform this procedure in a new, less invasive way, called Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting, or EVH.
Endo vein harvesting causes less muscle and tissue damage when harvesting the vein graft. This procedure has eliminated many of the complications associated with the former technique. This may offer significant benefits to you.
How we do Endo Vein harvesting ?
An endoscope is a special instrument, used to view the inside of a hollow area, is connected to a video camera and inserted through a small incision in the leg. The endoscope is used to view the saphenous vein inside the leg and allows us to remove the vein with minimal stress to the leg.
What benefit a CABG requiring patient gets from Endoscopic vein harvesting?
Endoscopic vein harvesting generally results in less muscle and tissue damage and therefore, may reduce the surgical trauma to the patient , quicker wound healing and less chances of infection , due to smaller incision.
In other words:
- you should experience less tissue scarring
- your leg wounds should be less painful
- you should avoid an unsightly scar
- you will be able to concentrate on your cardiac rehabilitation!
