External saphenous vein support prevents graft occlusion in CABG surgery

Abstract

Objectives: The most promising therapy for patients with advanced ischemic-heart disease is coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG). The mainly used graft-materials are autologous saphenous-veins. However, they are prone to occlude at high rates, causing infarctions and the necessity for high-risk redo-surgery. Recently, a Nitinol-based external vein support mesh (eSVS™) was developed and tested in animals. It revealed superb patency and long-term lack of intimal hyperplasia in supported grafts. We report the first in-the-human implantations in patients undergoing CABG.