# Safety and efficacy of water jet technology for internal thoracic artery harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting: Initial results

## TL;DR

This study shows that using water jet technology to harvest internal thoracic arteries for heart bypass surgery is safe and effective, with no complications and good results.

## Contribution

The study introduces water jet technology as a novel, thermal-free method for harvesting internal thoracic arteries in coronary surgery.

## Key findings

- Nine internal thoracic arteries were successfully harvested in five patients with 100% graft patency confirmed postoperatively.
- Histologic evaluation showed minimal tissue trauma and no thermal injury in harvested arteries.
- The mean harvest time was 29.7 minutes with excellent graft flow measurements.

## Abstract

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of water jet technology for internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting.

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.

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.

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.