Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
saphenous vein graft
Also written as: SVG — Saphenous Vein Graft
Autologous venous conduit harvested from the leg and used to bypass blocked coronary arteries.
Full Definition
A saphenous vein graft is a segment of the great saphenous vein removed from the patient's leg and used as a bypass conduit in coronary artery bypass surgery. The vein is typically reversed to accommodate valve function and connected between the aorta and the coronary artery distal to the blockage. While saphenous vein grafts have higher early patency rates than arterial grafts, they are more prone to late atherosclerotic changes and have lower long-term patency compared to internal mammary artery grafts.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as SVG. Do not hyphenate when used as a noun phrase.
In Context
- "The saphenous vein graft to the posterior descending artery showed excellent flow." — Post-operative CABG assessment
- "Angiography revealed significant stenosis in the saphenous vein graft to the circumflex artery." — Late post-CABG catheterisation report
Also known as
SVG
vein graft
reversed saphenous vein graft
Contrasted with
arterial graft
Don't confuse with
internal mammary artery graft
radial artery graft