Long-term Results Following Endoscopic Vein Harvesting in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Background

Vena saphena magna is frequently used as graft material in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG. Vein grafts can be harvested with conventional open technique (OVH = open vein harvesting), or with various endoscopic less invasive techniques (EVH = Endoscopic vein harvesting). The endoscopic techniques have been shown to reduce the incidence of postoperative wound complications and patients are more satisfied with the cosmetic surgery results.

Non-randomized trials, however, cast doubt on the patency rates of the vein grafts following EVH compared to OVH, while other studies including one randomized trial failed to detect any problems regarding this. There are no data regarding long-term patency rate following EVH.

It is therefore valuable to conduct a secondary follow-up among CABG patients who 4-7 years ago were included in a randomized trial focusing on wound complications from the leg. Although the study was not designed to evaluate the clinical results and patency rates of vein graft, such a study may still contribute with important knowledge because the results will come from a randomized patient cohorts, in contrast to results from most other studies.

Purpose

To investigate long-term patency rates (4-7 years) patency rates and clinical outcomes following EVH and OVH in first-time CABG.

We also want to perform a health economic analysis (cost-effectiveness analysis) to assess which of the two harvesting methods.

Hypotheses:

• Patency rates following EVH are worse compared to OVH in CABG 4-7 years postoperatively.
• EVH is associated with an increased incidence of recurrence of angina and the need for re-revascularization compared with OVH.
• Although EVH immediately leads to higher direct costs compared with OVH, there is a health economic benefit of this method in the long run.

Methods:

This experiment consists of a follow-up among 129 of 132 former patients who underwent first-time CABG between April 2004 - June 2007 at Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, comparing EVH and OVH. Register data will be collected and patient records will be reviewed. Surviving patients will be invited for a clinical evaluation. CT-angio in order to compare long-term patency rates of the vein grafts will be performed. Furthermore the incidence of recurrent angina, acute coronary syndrome, need for re-revascularization and cardiovascular death since the operation wil be evaluated.

All direct and indirect costs of the two methods of surgery and throughout the postoperative course until this study will be valued in order to perform a health economic analysis (cost-effectiveness analysis).

Subjects The age of the previous trial subjects was 65 years (range 43-90 years, at the time they were included in the previous study, and survivors will be 4-7 years old today.

It is expected that most of the surviving former patients will participate in the study.

Inclusion criteria

All 129 former patients who were included in the initial trial may be included. Deceased patients are only included in the trial regarding registry data and medical records.

Exclusion criteria

(in relation to the clinical examination):

Lack of consent. (Register Data for previous patients who did not give their informed consent for a clinical follow-up may be included in the study)

Exclusion criteria

(in relation to CT-angio):

Former patients with at least one of the following exclusion criteria will not have a CT-angio performed:

p-creatinine> 120 micromol / l Estimated GFR (eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate) per 1.73 m2 <60 ml / min.

Atrial fibrillation Allergy to contrast media Pregnancy Breastfeeding Lack of consent

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who participated in the previous randomized study
• Informed consent from the patient

Exclusion criteria

• Survival until date of reexamination
• No informed consent
• CT scan of the heart will not be performed in patients with if: atrial fibrillation,p-creatinin >120 micromol/l, allergy to contrast, pregnancy, lactating.