Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
saphenous vein graft
Pronunciation: sah-FEE-nus
Vein harvested from the leg used as a conduit for coronary artery bypass surgery.
Full Definition
Saphenous vein graft (SVG) refers to a segment of the saphenous vein harvested from the patient's leg and used as a bypass conduit to reroute blood around blocked coronary arteries. The great saphenous vein is the most commonly used conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting, though it has lower long-term patency rates compared to arterial conduits. Proper documentation includes the harvesting technique (open versus endoscopic), conduit quality, and anastomotic sites.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as SVG. Note correct spelling of 'saphenous' (not 'safenous').
In Context
- "A saphenous vein graft was anastomosed to the posterior descending artery." — Operative report
- "The patient's SVG to the circumflex showed 90% stenosis on angiography." — Cardiac catheterization report
Also known as
SVG
venous graft
saphenous conduit
Contrasted with
arterial graft
Don't confuse with
saphenous artery
femoral vein graft