Cabrini first with new cardiac procedure

Not-for-profit healthcare provider, Cabrini Health, has become the first private hospital in Victoria to perform endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

This innovative technique, led by Cabrini Cardiothoracic Surgeon Mr Adam Zimmet, marks a significant advancement in cardiac care and patient recovery.

“Traditionally, vein harvesting involved making a long incision from just above the ankle to the groin, sometimes extending 15 to 30 centimetres in length,” Mr Zimmet explained. “With the new EVH procedure, we only make two small incisions.”

“For patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery, the EVH procedure means less pain, faster wound healing, barely visible scars, reduced complications and quicker recovery times,” Mr Zimmet said.

Professor Matt Sabin, Cabrini Group Director of Medical Services and Clinical Governance said the introduction of EVH represents another exciting evolution for Cabrini’s cardiac services.

“Coronary artery disease takes a heavy toll on the heart and for some patients a bypass operation brings new hope. This breakthrough EVH technique makes vein harvesting easier on our patients and offers a life-changing chance to regain heart health quicker through improved mobility and recovery times.

“There’s potential for further expansion of our EVH program at Cabrini, and this development paves the way for broader adoption in the private sector across Victoria and beyond,” added Professor Sabin.

The introduction of EVH at Cabrini has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Cabrini Foundation donors, who funded the first 10 procedures and technology required for the EVH program.

Mr Zimmet and his team have now successfully performed Cabrini’s first three EVH procedures. They were assisted by a team from The Alfred who helped train Cabrini staff on the technique, which requires a specialised setup and different equipment to that used in regular cardiac surgeries.

Cabrini has become the first private hospital in Victoria to perform endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. This was previously only done at the publics – namely the Alfred.

Read more on the Cabrini procedure.

(Source: Cabrini Health)