VesselGuardian^®

ENDOSCOPIC VEIN HARVESTING

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery is a life-saving process that uses veins and arteries harvested from elsewhere in the body. The use of endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) reduces wound morbidity by using a minimally invasive procedure with small incision(s). EVH is now the standard of care in the United States. However, recent studies have linked EVH to early graft closure, increased early mortality and myocardial infarction. 

IMPROVING THE EVH ENVIRONMENT

Traditional carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas used for insufflation is drier than desert air and cold. The relative humidity of this gas has a profound negative impact on tissue, causing desiccation and stimulating inflammatory responses.  Specifically in EVH harvested conduit, the dry gas affects the morphology of the vessel. When the conduit is dried out, it manifests:

• Loss of normal moisture surrounding the vessel

• Spasm and change in vascular tone (vasoconstriction)

• Vessel shrinkage (contraction)

• Loss of pliability (distensibility)

• Loss of adventitial integrity (dessication)

• Change in shape and morphology due to contraction (luminal convolution)

• Initiation of acute inflammation

The VesselGuardian^® humidifies and warms the CO₂ gas to 95°F and 95% relative humidity, thereby providing a homeostatic environment during the harvest. The morphology of the vessel is practically unaffected, thereby providing a better conduit for the CABG procedure.

PATIENTS

Please contact us so we can help provide your surgeon with the VesselGuardian^® during your upcoming cardiac surgery. 

PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANTS (PAs) AND SURGEONS

The VesselGuardian^® device is now available at hospitals and surgery centers across the US. It is based on patented technologies that have been demonstrated in 50+ clinical studies to enable better tissue preservation. TheVesselGuardian^® offers simply the best conditions to perform EVH in a compact easy-to-use disposable device. It is able to upgrade all insufflators and mates to all commercially available EVH devices. It is both FDA and UL approved. The benefits include: 

• Improved vessel integrity

• Better luminal patency

• Practically eliminate adventitial desiccation and loss

• Virtually prevent vessel constriction and intimal convolution

• Reduced hypothermia at harvest location

• Potentially improved cardiac surgical outcomes