A NOVEL WAY OF ENDOSCOPIC VEIN HARVESTING THAT INCREASES THE VIABILITY OF HARVESTED VEIN

Abstract

Current methods of vein harvesting have proven to cause shear trauma to the walls of the vein, resulting in a reduced patency of the graft and dire post-surgical consequences. This study aims to create a device that lowers the risk of damaging vein grafts when doctors carry out CABG during the vein separation process.

A prototype was designed and fabricated with a no-touch method that harvests the vein with a layer of perivascular adipose tissue to minimize direct blunt force trauma and shear stress to the vein. The vein is then manipulated with a layer of air cushion between the vein and the prototype to reduce physical manipulation. The prototype was then tested on cadaveric porcine saphenous veins and bench marked against veins harvested using the current gold standard of EVH. The veins were then sent for histological testing with H&E staining and compared visually. Through microscopic examination, the veins harvested in a simulated environment with the prototype shows a smoother, more complete endothelial layer.

This study shows that the harvesting with a no-touch method as designed with the prototype enables a trauma-less vein harvesting method, with potential gains in health status and cost effectiveness in this treatment method.