Researchers have unveiled a game-changing technique for preserving veins during coronary bypass grafts.
New findings suggest that substituting the traditional saline solution with a mixture of the anticoagulant heparin and a patient’s own blood significantly enhances the protection of veins from cell and tissue damage.
The study was conducted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Carilion Clinic and published in the January issue of the Journal of Vascular Research.
Lead author Scott Johnstone, assistant professor at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, emphasised the importance of the research: ‘Ultimately, we’re putting healthier blood vessels back into patients.’
Carilion Clinic cardiothoracic surgeon Mark Joseph, co-author of the study, expressed hope that the discovery would inspire a shift in clinical practices.
The team aims to improve the long-term success of vein grafts in the nearly 400,000 coronary artery bypass graft procedures performed annually in the US.
The study revealed that a decade after surgery, 50-60% of traditional grafts fail. This prompted Meghan Sedovy, a doctoral student at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, to investigate the damage to the endothelial lining of saphenous vein cell tissues.
The researchers found that preserving veins in heparinised arterial blood, rather than saline, provided better nutrients to the veins when awaiting use as a bypass graft. This resulted in healthier endothelium, which is crucial for the success of heart bypass surgery.
Scott Johnstone explained the significance of preserving endothelium: ‘When you take away the endothelium, it leaves a layer of very sticky elastin and collagen, and that’s where things like platelets and immune cells can line up, and you end up with blood clots and blocked veins.’
The study, involving collaboration between researchers and surgical teams, demonstrated that heparinised patient blood protects against oxidative stress, thereby reducing tissue damage.
While the research has immediate implications for clinical practice, Mark Joseph stressed the need for further studies to explore long-term patient outcomes.
He acknowledged the study’s limitations, including its short duration and small sample size of 25 patients.
Supported by the American Heart Association, this research holds promise for transforming surgical practices and improving patient outcomes in coronary bypass surgeries.
