Methods: Between May 2013 and June 2014, 30 patients (19 males, 11 females, mean age 60.0±8.2 years; range 47 to 77 years) who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery were enrolled in the study. Sixteen samples from internal thoracic artery and radial artery grafts in each group were collected. The grafts were divided into two groups: grafts harvested by electrocautery (group 1) and grafts harvested without electrocautery (group 2).

Results: The vasodilatation responses of internal thoracic artery grafts were significantly reduced in group 1, compared to group 2. Although the vasodilatation responses of radial artery grafts in group 1 were lesser than in group 2, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Vessel harvesting by electrocautery may cause serious endothelial injury particularly in internal thoracic artery grafts, rather than radial artery grafts. The procedure without electrocautery may be more advantageous during the harvesting of arterial grafts in terms of preventing early graft failure.