Simultaneous endoscopic radial artery and great saphenous vein harvesting for redo coronary artery bypass grafting. A report of two cases

An ageing population and increase in patient co-morbidities are forcing cardiac surgeons to meticulously consider the benefits and risks of respective conduits and their harvesting techniques. Two cases of simultaneous endoscopic radial artery and great saphenous vein harvesting, for redo coronary artery bypass grafting, are presented. A shortage of venous conduits after previous bypass grafting, as well as the presentation of several risk factors of wound-healing complications, favoured simultaneous utilisation of both endoscopic techniques. Endoscopic vessel harvesting together with the pre-harvesting duplex study is able to gain not only high-quality conduits but also minimize the risk of wound-healing and neurological disturbances associated the saphenous vein and radial artery harvesting.