Starion Instruments’ Shears Ideal for Endoscopic Radial Artery and Saphenous Vein Harvesting

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Starion Instruments, a leading surgical device company, announced that a study presented at the 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS) found Starion’s Tissue Ligating Shears provides a safe and effective solution for endoscopic harvesting of the radial artery and saphenous vein.

Minimally invasive vessel harvesting is an important technique for coronary artery bypass graft procedures. While devices are available for either radial artery or saphenous vein harvesting, access to a single system with which to perform both procedures has been limited.

The study, Safety and Efficacy of a Single System for Minimally Invasive Harvesting of Both Radial Artery and Saphenous Vein, was led by Guido Gelpi, MD, from the cardiovascular division of L. Sacco Hospital at the University of Milan, Italy. Gelpi and his team assessed the safety and efficacy of a single system (Starion Tissue Ligating Shears and Datascope retractor and vessel extractor) with which to harvest both the radial artery and saphenous vein.

Forty patients were prospectively randomized. The researchers endoscopically harvested radial arteries from 10 patients and saphenous veins from another 10 patients using the Starion/Datascope system. They also harvested radial arteries from 10 patients and saphenous veins from another 10 patients using conventional, open techniques.

Besides the smaller incisions and higher patient satisfaction, the endoscopically harvested groups presented with no skin dehiscence.

“Starion’s Tissue Ligating Shears coupled with Datascope’s retractor and dissector represent an ideal system for endoscopic harvesting of both the radial artery and saphenous vein,” said Gelpi. “This single, safe and effective system does not alter artery or vein vasoreactivity and shows good results in terms of efficiency and patient satisfaction.”

Source: Starion Instruments