INTRODUCTION: The vascular echocolor Doppler, has made possible the observation of the greater saphenous vein (GSV) state without additional risk to the patient or to vascular lesions. The objective of the study was, working with a group of cardiovascular surgeons, to show the utility of the mapping of the GSV before coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHOD: During the period from March 1995 to May 1998, 208 extremities of 104 patients selected for CABG were studied. The criteria used for the selection of the GSV was the patency and a diameter larger than or equal to 3.0 mm, using the the ultra-sound equipment ATL - HDI 3000 and Acuson-Sequóia 512. RESULTS: Within the 208 extremities studied, 186 (89.4%) were appropriate for CABG in accordance with the description from the echocolor Doppler, seventeen (8.2%) did not fulfill the criteria, and five (2.4%) showed GSV stripping. Two of the seventeen inappropriate GSV were surgically explored, confirming the echoultrasound findings. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that the echocolor Doppler can be effective in the mapping of GSV in the preoperative examination of the greater saphenous vein and its selection for CABG. Due to it´s capacity to correctly identify and select veins for by - pass surgery, the echocolor Doppler saves time in the search for veins and permits the surgeon to better plan the surgery.
Myocardial revascularization; Echocardiography, Doppler color; Saphenous vein; Preoperative care
