This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Bhirangi, K. Articles by Kraiss, L. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bhirangi, K. Articles by Kraiss, L. W. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Angioscopic Preparation of the Saphenous Vein for in situ Grafting in the Treatment of Chronic Lower Extremity Ischemia

University of Utah Medical Center, Division of Vascular Surgery, Salt Lake City, Utah

James C. Lynch

University of Washington, Departments of Surgery and Biostatistics, Seattle, WA

Christopher Stahler, JR

University of Washington, Departments of Surgery and Biostatistics, Seattle, WA, The Wenatchee Valley Clinic, Wenatchee, Washington

Milton H. Brinton

University of Washington, Departments of Surgery and Biostatistics, Seattle, WA, The Wenatchee Valley Clinic, Wenatchee, Washington

Larry W. Kraiss

University of Utah Medical Center, Division of Vascular Surgery, Salt Lake City, Utah

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the angioscopic method of preparation of the saphenous vein for in situ grafting as compared with the standard open vein preparation. Nineteen consecutive cases performed after adoption of a semiclosed angioscopic technique were compared with 20 consecutive cases performed with the conventional technique of vein preparation. Wound complications occurred less frequently in the angioscopy group (37% vs 78%, p=0.02). By univariate analysis, wound healing problems were associated with low preoperative ankle-brachial index (p=0.07), tissue loss (p=0.05), and use of a long, continuous leg incision (p=0.01). Logistic regression analysis identified low preoperative ankle-brachial index (p=0.03), diabetes (p=0.05), and a long, continuous leg incision (p=0.06) as independent predictors of wound compli cations. Patients with wound complications had significantly longer hospital stays (9 ±8 vs 4 ±3 days, p<0.01). This initial experience suggests that angioscopic preparation of the saphenous vein results in fewer wound complications and should result in shorter hospital stays compared to conventional methods of vein preparation. The long-term effect of angioscopically assisted vein preparation remains to be determined.

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Vol. 34, No. 2, 115-123 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/153857440003400203


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?