The No touch saphenous vein is an excellent alternative conduit to the radial artery eight years after CABG: A randomized trial

Abstract Objectives In 2004, a prospective randomized trial demonstrated that, after 3 years, saphenous veins(SV) harvested with a No Touch (NT) technique had a greater patency than radial graftsfor coronary bypass surgery. We now report the 8-year follow-up data of this trial. Methods The trial included 108 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG). Each patient was assigned to receive one NT SV and one radial artery(RA) grafteither to the left or right coronary territory to complement the left internal thoracic artery(LITA). Sequential graftingwas common, so overall graftpatency, as well as patency of each anastomosis was assessed. Results Angiography was performed in 84 patients (78%) at mean 97 months postoperatively. Graftpatency for both the NT veins and RAs were high, and similar: 86% NT versus 79% RA, p=0.22. The patency for coronary anastomoses graftedwith the NT SV was significantly higher than for the RA grafts(91% versus 81% p=0.046), respectively. The NT graftsalso had excellent patency in coronary arteries with a less than 90% stenosis (patency 93%), or in coronary arteries with small diameters (87%), or mild calcification (88%). The patency for the left internal thoracic artery(LITA) was 92%. Conclusions No Touch saphenous vein graftshave an excellent patency that is similar to radial artery graftsafter 8 years. In addition, NT saphenous veincan also be used in situations that are not ideal for radial artery grafts.