If my saphenous vein is removed, what will the surgeons use for heart bypass?
You don’t have to worry about the ablation of diseased saphenous vein and its need during a bypass surgery. Your surgeon can use your radial (arm) artery or other arteries, such as the internal mammary arteries, which have shown the best long-term results.
Since saphenous veins are the commonly affected superficial veins and the common veins used for heart bypass, it is reasonable for one to ask such a question. A normal saphenous vein with healthy valve can always be used for coronary artery bypass or for bypass of arterial diseases. Therefore, saphenous veins that are varicose cannot be used and there are other options available for the heart surgeon in the form of free grafts involving radial artery as well as arteries inside the chest wall.
Related Questions
- If both legs undergo Closure procedures and a vein is later needed for a heart bypass, would the surgeon be able to harvest another vein in lieu of the saphenous vein?
- Is minimally invasive harvesting of the great saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass surgery a cost-effective technique?
- Do residual arteriovenous fistulae after in situ saphenous vein bypass grafting influence patency?
