BackgroundEndoscopic harvest of the radial artery has been well described in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. However, there is few data describing the learning curve of endoscopic radial harvest when performed by an attending cardiac surgeon.MethodsBetween June 2013 and December 2014, 32 patients underwent endoscopic radial artery harvest by a single surgeon. Mean patient age was 61.8±10.4 years, 5 (16%) were female and 15 (47%) were diabetic. The radial artery was harvested using the Vasoview Hemopro 2 (Maquet, NJ, USA). Patients were assessed during their index hospitalization and one-month postoperatively.ResultsOverall, brachial artery ischemia time was 58.5±14.0 min. There were 3 conversions to an open radial artery harvest that occurred in the initial 15 patients. All conduits harvested endoscopically were used for bypass grafting with a length of 18.8±4.8 cm. Cumulative sum analysis considering brachial artery ischemia time revealed a learning curve of approximately 20 cases (Figure) (51.7±4.0 versus 63.1±16.6 min, p<0.03). There were no instances of early wound infection and 1 (3%) patient noted mild hand paraesthesias at follow-up.ConclusionThis study confirms that endoscopic radial artery harvest is safe and feasible. Favorable early results can be achieved immediately at program onset when initiated by an experienced surgeon. Conduit harvest times significantly shorted after the first 20 cases. BackgroundEndoscopic harvest of the radial artery has been well described in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. However, there is few data describing the learning curve of endoscopic radial harvest when performed by an attending cardiac surgeon. Endoscopic harvest of the radial artery has been well described in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. However, there is few data describing the learning curve of endoscopic radial harvest when performed by an attending cardiac surgeon. MethodsBetween June 2013 and December 2014, 32 patients underwent endoscopic radial artery harvest by a single surgeon. Mean patient age was 61.8±10.4 years, 5 (16%) were female and 15 (47%) were diabetic. The radial artery was harvested using the Vasoview Hemopro 2 (Maquet, NJ, USA). Patients were assessed during their index hospitalization and one-month postoperatively. Between June 2013 and December 2014, 32 patients underwent endoscopic radial artery harvest by a single surgeon. Mean patient age was 61.8±10.4 years, 5 (16%) were female and 15 (47%) were diabetic. The radial artery was harvested using the Vasoview Hemopro 2 (Maquet, NJ, USA). Patients were assessed during their index hospitalization and one-month postoperatively. ResultsOverall, brachial artery ischemia time was 58.5±14.0 min. There were 3 conversions to an open radial artery harvest that occurred in the initial 15 patients. All conduits harvested endoscopically were used for bypass grafting with a length of 18.8±4.8 cm. Cumulative sum analysis considering brachial artery ischemia time revealed a learning curve of approximately 20 cases (Figure) (51.7±4.0 versus 63.1±16.6 min, p<0.03). There were no instances of early wound infection and 1 (3%) patient noted mild hand paraesthesias at follow-up. Overall, brachial artery ischemia time was 58.5±14.0 min. There were 3 conversions to an open radial artery harvest that occurred in the initial 15 patients. All conduits harvested endoscopically were used for bypass grafting with a length of 18.8±4.8 cm. Cumulative sum analysis considering brachial artery ischemia time revealed a learning curve of approximately 20 cases (Figure) (51.7±4.0 versus 63.1±16.6 min, p<0.03). There were no instances of early wound infection and 1 (3%) patient noted mild hand paraesthesias at follow-up. ConclusionThis study confirms that endoscopic radial artery harvest is safe and feasible. Favorable early results can be achieved immediately at program onset when initiated by an experienced surgeon. Conduit harvest times significantly shorted after the first 20 cases. This study confirms that endoscopic radial artery harvest is safe and feasible. Favorable early results can be achieved immediately at program onset when initiated by an experienced surgeon. Conduit harvest times significantly shorted after the first 20 cases.