Compartment syndrome after endoscopic harvest of the great saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening condition often associated with traumatic, crush, burn, and reperfusion injuries. It is characterized by the development of disproportionately severe pain, paresthesias, decreased range of motion, loss of pulse, and a tense, edematous limb. In addition, measured compartment pressures and creatine phosphokinase values are often elevated. The definitive treatment is a decompressive fasciotomy. Compartment syndrome after coronary artery bypass grafting, however, is rare. The few reported cases all occurred in the vein donor leg after open harvest. We present a patient with compartment syndrome after endoscopic harvest of the saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass grafting. 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.