Methods: From February 1995 to May 2002, 961 patients who underwent two vessel aortocoronary bypass were divided into three groups according to graft incision area. Left internal mammarian artery was used in all patients. Radial artery graft was used in Group 1 (n = 274), SVG above the knee in Group 2 (n = 233) and SVG below the knee in Group 3 (n = 454). Patients graft incisions were evaluated postoperatively.
Results: In Group 1, wound infection was not observed in any of the patients contrary to Group 2 and 3 (wound infection developed in 22 of 687 patients) (3.2%) (p < 0.05). Superficial skin infection (5 patients), deep wound infection (4 patients), delayed wound healing (3 patients), skin necrosis(2 patients), hematoma (one patient) was observed in Group 2 which as superficial skin infection (3 patients), deep wound infection (1 patient), delayed wound healing (2 patients), skin necrosis(1 patient) was observed in group III. Debritment of wound area was done to 11 patients, later skin graft was done in 2 of the patients. In one patient flap rotation was done.
Conclusion: Arterial grafts have lots of advantage when compared with vein grafts due to results of long term competence. We believe radial artery grafts are superior, considering graft patency rates and graft incision line infection rates, keeping lower morbidity due to lower infection at radial artery graft incision lines and cost effectiveness because of lower hospital stay time, incision dressing, additional surgical procedures etc. in mind.
Hastalarda en sık gelişen komplikasyon yüzeyel yara enfeksiyonu idi (8 hasta). Beş hastada derin yara enfeksiyonu, 5 hastada geç yara iyileşmesi, 3 hastada cilt nekrozu ve 1 hastada yaygın cilt altı hematom gözlemlenen diğer komplikasyonlardı. Hastalarda görülen enfeksiyon tablosu, genellikle ilk hafta içerisinde insizyon hattında lokal ısı artışı, ödem, kızarıklık ve ağrı ile karşımıza çıkmıştı. Hastalardan 11ine yara yeri debritmanı uygulanmış olup, 2 hastaya daha sonra cilt grefti ve 1 hastaya da flep rotasyonu gibi ilave cerrahi girişim yapıldı (Tablo 2). Yara yeri enfeksiyonu olan hastalarda ortalama taburcu süresi 14.2 ± 3.4 gün olup, genelde 2279 hastanın ortalama taburcu süresi ise 7.9 ± 2.6 gündü (p < 0.05). Radiyal insizyonlu hastalarda taburcu süresi 7.2 ± 1.2 gün, safen insizyonlu hastalarda ise taburcu süresi 8.3 ± 2.5 gündü (p < 0.05). Radiyal alınan hastaların ortalama yara yeri pansuman sayısı 2.8 ± 0.5, safen vende ise 6.8 ± 1.3 adetti (p < 0.05). Postoperatif antibiyotik kullanım süresi radiyal arter alınan hastalarda 3.2 ± 0.5 gün , safen ven alınan hastalarada ise 5.1 ± 1.7 gündü (p < 0.05). Ortalama elastik bandaj kullanımı RA alınan hastalarda 1.2 ± 0.1 adet, safen ven alınan hastalarda ise 4.3 ± 1.7 adetti (p < 0.05).
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