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to Cardiac Surgery
Endoscopic Vein Harvesting Increases Satisfaction
for Patients
The Regional Heart Institute's cardiovascular surgical teams are
training surgeons and other healthcare providers from Chicago and
other Midwestern hospitals at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
in the use of an innovative, minimally invasive procedure that
improves cardiac care.
This minimally invasive procedure is called endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH),
which is used during 95 percent of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries
at OSF Saint Anthony. The experience and expertise the Regional Heart Institute
surgical teams have in the use of EVH, led to the training designation.
"
Our position as a leader in the use of this beneficial procedure is one
of the major reasons OSF Saint Anthony has been chosen as one of a handful
of training sites in Illinois. This is an accomplishment that we are proud
of and
benefits people throughout Illinois," says James P. Locher Jr.,
MD, a member of Rockford Surgical Services and independent physician with
the Regional Heart Institute.
Old
vs. New
Forty years ago, the first CABG surgery in Rockford took place at OSF Saint Anthony.
Since that time, an incision of two to three feet in length has been made to
remove the saphenous leg vein, which is used in almost all CABG surgeries. Although
effective, the long cut can have unpleasant side effects such as leg pain, incision
site infections and unattractive scarring. Often, patients who have the traditional
method of vein removal experience more postoperative pain from the leg than from
the chest incision.
|
Endoscopic
Vein Harvesting |
Today, the
cardiac surgical teams at OSF Saint Anthony use Guidant’s
Vasoview Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System. Its tiny high-tech surgical
instruments and fiberoptic probe provide a 360 degree view of the saphenous
vein through
an incision located near the knee that is usually about two centimeters
long.
"The system is used to dissect the vein and inject CO2 gas to isolate it
from surrounding tissue. We then retract, cauterize, and divide the tributaries
that link to the saphenous vein. This allows us to remove the vein intact
and use it to bypass a blocked coronary artery and restore blood flow to the
heart," says
Baron Harper, MD, a member of Rockford Surgical Service
and independent physician with the Regional Heart Institute.
Benefits
This dramatic reduction in the size of the incision benefits patients in many
ways. Patients experience less post-operative pain, have fewer complications
and avoid unattractive scars. A study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital
in Boston found that patients who had an EVH procedure to remove a saphenous
vein experienced 75 percent reduction in leg infections, deep bruises and swelling
at the incision site on the leg. Less leg pain and fewer infections help patients
get back on their feet quicker, begin cardiac rehabilitation programs faster
and return to normal activities sooner.
"We are receiving tremendous feedback from our patients who appreciate less
pain and fewer side effects," says Dr. Locher. |
