Endothelial Function Is Preserved in Veins Harvested by Either Endoscopic or Surgical Techniques.

Background: Endoscopic vein harvest for lower extremity arterial bypass grafting has been questioned due to concern for endothelial damage during procurement. We sought to compare nitric oxide (NO)-mediated endothelial-dependent relaxation (EDR) in vein segments harvested using open surgical techniques (OH) versus endoscopic vein harvest (EH) techniques.

Methods: Saphenous vein segments were harvested for lower extremity bypass, and a single, minimally handled section of saphenous vein, free of branches, was taken from the end of the graft.