OBJECTIVETo evaluate the mid-term clinical outcome of endoscopic greater saphenous vein harvesting (EVH) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Method A total of 205 patients receiving off-pump CABG between July, 2012 and April, 2013 at our department were enrolled in this study, including 66 patients (35 male and 31 female patients with a mean age of 60.3±7.92 years) undergoing EVH and 139 patients (109 male and 30 female patients with a mean age of 59.20±8.37 years) undergoing open greater saphenous vein harvesting (OVH).

RESULTSThe surgical procedures were completed smoothly in all the cases. The perioperative mortality rates was 3.03% (2/66) in EVH group, as compared with 3.60% (5/139) in OVH group (P=1.00). Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurred during the perioperative period in 3 (2.16%) patients in OVH group and in 1 (1.52%) patient in EVH group. Perioperative low cardiac output syndrome was diagnosed in 4 (2.88%) patients in OVH group and in 2 (3.03%) in EVH group (P>0.05). During the follow-up, 8 (8.80%) patients in OVH group and 5 (8.06%) in EVH group had recurrent angina (P=0.93). No patients experienced AMI during the follow-up. The 2-year patency rate of the venous grafts was 83.59% in OVH group and 82.22% in EVH group (P=0.73).

CONCLUSIONEVH has significant advantage in reducing the complications of the incision in the lower limbs. The mid-term patency rates of venous grafts are similar between OVH and EVH, but the long-term patency rate needs further evaluation.