The Technical Aspect of the Gastroepiploic Artery Graft Skeletonization with the Harmonic Scalpel: The Samurai Technique

Authors

  • Hiroyuki Kamiya
  • Go Watanabe
  • Shigeyuki Tomita
  • Hirofumi Takemura
  • Hiroshi Nagamine
  • Satoru Nishida

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1532/HSF98.20041169

Abstract

A novel skeletonization technique using the scissors-type harmonic scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH, USA) is presented. This "samurai technique," which uses the harmonic scalpel by frequently turning over the scissors, facilitates the handling of the gastroepiploic artery, enlarges the caliber size, and allows easy skeletonization without any vessel injury.

References

Chavanon O, Durand M, Hacini R, et al. 2002. Coronary artery bypass grafting with left internal mammary and right gastroepiploic artery, with and without bypass. Ann Thorac Surg 73:499-504.nOchi M, Hatori N, Fujii M, Saji Y, Tanaka S, Honma H. 2001. Limited flow capacity of the right gastroepiploic artery graft: Postoperative echocardiographic and angiographic evaluation. Ann Thorac Surg 71:1210-4.nTakemura H, Watanabe G, Takahashi M, et al. 2003. Beating heart coronary bypass grafting-results from 402 patients and the usefulness of gas troepiploic artery composite grafting. Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 51:173-7.nWendler O, Tscholl D, Huang Q, Schafers HJ. 1999. Free flow capacity of skeletonized versus pedicled internal thoracic artery grafts in coronary artery bypass grafts. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 15:247-50.nYasuura K, Takagi Y, Ohara Y, Takami Y, Matsuura A, Okamoto H. 2000. Theoretical analysis of right gastroepiploic artery grafting to right coronary artery. Ann Thorac Surg 69:728-31.n

Published

2005-03-25

How to Cite

Kamiya, H., Watanabe, G., Tomita, S., Takemura, H., Nagamine, H., & Nishida, S. (2005). The Technical Aspect of the Gastroepiploic Artery Graft Skeletonization with the Harmonic Scalpel: The Samurai Technique. The Heart Surgery Forum, 8(2), E121-E123. https://doi.org/10.1532/HSF98.20041169

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