Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
saphenous vein graft
Pronunciation: sa-FEE-nus
A blood vessel harvested from the patient's leg for use as a conduit in coronary artery bypass surgery.
Full Definition
The saphenous vein graft is the most commonly used conduit in coronary artery bypass procedures, harvested from the patient's greater saphenous vein in the leg. This autologous graft is preferred for its availability, appropriate diameter, and length. The vein is reversed during implantation so that its valves do not obstruct blood flow. While durable, saphenous vein grafts have higher long-term failure rates compared to arterial grafts.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as SVG in medical records; distinguish from arterial grafts when editing surgical reports.
In Context
- "The surgeon harvested a saphenous vein graft from the patient's right leg for the triple bypass procedure." — Operative note
- "Long-term patency rates favor arterial conduits over saphenous vein grafts in younger patients." — Clinical research paper
Also known as
SVG
venous graft
Contrasted with
arterial graft
Don't confuse with
saphenofemoral junction
internal mammary artery