The risks involved with this surgery include suffering from a heart attack, needing another artery
-opening procedure altogether in three years of undergoing the treatment.
The study results have sent the health experts and patients into a tizzy.
About the study
The study performed by Duke University researchers, involved 3,000 patients at more than 100 sites in U.S which were a part of another study for an experimental drug.
Though the researchers were not clear about what caused the long-term problems, they suspect tugging on the vein through a small incision takes a toll on the delicate tissue and the vein suffers a damage from being pulled out which doesn't hold up well over time.
Some 13 years back, doctors altered the procedure to make it less invasive. The new method involved making small "porthole" cuts, using a tiny scope and tools, to pull the vein out through the small openings.
Almost more than nine percent of people whose veins were removed in this manner, died or had a cardiac arrest in the following three years, compared to fewer than eight percent, of those who underwent the traditional method.
Reactions from experts
“The results are a cautionary tale about rushing to adopt approaches that seem better for patients but may have hidden dangers,” said Dr. Robert Guyton, cardiothoracic surgery chief at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Dr. Daniel Watson, a cardiovascular surgeon at Riverside Methodist Hospital, said he has been aware for years that the small-incision procedure can cause trauma to a vein. He said being able to recognize strong veins is key to deciding which procedure will work for a patient.
“More research is needed to confirm the results, but doctors probably should use the technique more sparingly or handle the vein more carefully when they do pull it out,” said Dr. Timothy Gardner, a heart surgeon at Christiana Care Health Services in Wilmington, Del., and former American Heart Association president.
The research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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