Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of water jet technology for internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 5 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with ITA harvesting using water jet technology. ITAs were harvested using water jet technology at 10 bar pressure and anastomosed to the target coronary arteries. Primary end points included technical success rate, intraoperative flow measurements, and postoperative graft patency by computed tomography. Secondary end points included histologic evaluation of excess graft segments when available. RESULTS: Nine ITAs were successfully harvested in all 5 cases without complications. Mean harvest time was 29.7 ± 5.7 minutes, with excellent graft flow of 30.9 ± 13.1 mL/minutes. Postoperative computed tomography confirmed 100% graft patency (9/9 ITAs). Histologic examination of 6 ITAs with available excess segments revealed minimal tissue change with microhemorrhages and minimal perivascular coagulation, without thermal injury to medial or intimal layers. CONCLUSIONS: Water jet technology demonstrates feasibility and safety for ITA harvesting with excellent clinical outcomes and minimal tissue trauma. This thermal-free approach may offer advantages over conventional energy-based harvesting methods.