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For many reasons, the saphenous vein (SV) and internal thoracic artery (ITA) will continue to be the most important conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The high incidence of vein graft occlusion is an important and unsolved problem in myocardial revascularization [1]. Improvement of SV graft patency rate is therefore a great challenge in the field of cardiovascular surgery. The widespread use of complete arterial grafting with the left internal thoracic artery and other arterial conduits cannot yet be justified on scientific grounds, as there are few late survival data and controlled studies to support this statement [2].

Different structural and functional properties between arteries and veins may explain the better results of the arterial grafts. Nevertheless, the trauma to the SV wall that occurs during its harvesting for CABG may also contribute to the poor results of venous grafts [3]. At time of implantation, adventitial and endothelial damage is almost absent in ITA grafts. In contrast, the endothelium of conventionally-harvested SV shows greater thrombogenic properties and the SV adventitial layer is often completely removed during the operation [4, 5]. Usually, the vein is harvested traumatically by a junior of the surgical team, with least experience, a situation likely to contribute to the poor quality of the graft and consequently to graft failure. Many strategies have been introduced in an attempt to prevent vein graft occlusion and to improve short-and longterm patency rate. Apart from established adjuvant medical therapy, new pharmacological agents, gene therapy, as well as