Over the past few decades, the use of endoscopic harvest of the saphenous vein has gained popularity due to a significant reduction in rates of wound infection and improved cosmesis. The widespread adoption of this technique has introduced a set of complications associated with the use CO insufflation which facilitates exposure during the vein harvest. We describe a case of pneumoperitoneum with systemic acidosis and subcutaneous air following endoscopic vein harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting and review the complications that may arise from CO insufflation during endoscopic vein harvesting.

Publications corresponding to the plenary sessions of the AATS are highly cited and include some of the seminal studies in our field in the past 20 years.