A clinical technique for prevention of spasm and preservation of endothelium in saphenous vein grafts.

Spasm and endothelial injury during harvesting of saphenous vein grafts can be prevented by a protocol that involves perivenous infiltration with 37 degrees C papaverine hydrochloride solution prior to skin incision, initial distention of the vein with the same warm papaverine solution, storage of the distended vein graft in a cold papaverine solution, and maintenance of the vein in the distended state throughout the operative procedure. This technique preserves endothelial integrity in human reversed saphenous vein grafts.