The histological examination of vena saphena magna as a graft In coronary artery bypass surgery

Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide, owing to the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease, which remains a leading cause of death globally. Following CABG, the development of occlusion in vein grafts is one of the significant indicators of poor prognosis, resulting in an increased risk of recurrent ischemic events and repeat revascularization. In the early and late postoperative periods, the use of healthy grafts with intact endothelium is critical to reduce mortality and morbidity rates. In this study, the histopathological findings of the vena saphena magna grafts in 12 patients who underwent CABG were evaluated to identify any preoperative degenerative changes in the grafts. The findings of the study showed that preoperative morphological degeneration was minimal in most grafts. However, in one sample, intimal fibrosis narrowed the lumen, while another sample exhibited mild medial sclerosis. In contrast, all other samples showed minimal or no degeneration. Consequently, assessing the histopathological condition of vessels before the operation is crucial to avoid using unsuitable grafts and to direct the surgeon to use different grafts if necessary. This study highlights the importance of examining the histology of vena saphena magna grafts to ensure their suitability as a bypass conduit in CABG surgery.