Endoscopic Vein-Graft Harvesting in CABG Procedures

Host: Janet Wright, MD Guest: John Alexander, MD, MHS One of the reported benefits of endoscopic vein harvesting is a lower risk of wound complications following coronary bypass grafting, though it has yet to be established that long-term clinical outcomes for this technique are superior to those achieved using open harvesting under direct vision. New findings suggest a need to weigh short-term benefits against long-term outcomes. Host Dr. Janet Wright talks with Dr. John Alexander, associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and senior author of these findings, which have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. How can the surgeon, cardiologist and patient work together to determine the best course of treatment for each individual undergoing coronary bypass surgery?