If ablation is done on the saphenous vein, are there other veins that may be used for future heart operations?

I have not had any heart problems other than high blood pressure, but family members have had heart catheters and heart surgery. I have leaking valves in the saphenous vein. If ablated, can other veins be used in those heart surgeries if the need arises in future?

Answers from doctors (18)


More About Doctor David Green, MD

Published on Feb 17, 2022

Yes, if a Saphenous Vein is not available for grafting for coronary bypass surgery, other veins can be utilized. If a Saphenous Vein is insufficient - or actually varicose - it would not be harvested for bypass surgery and a normal veins would be used.

Answered by David Green, MD (View Profile)

Yes, if a Saphenous Vein is not available for grafting for coronary bypass surgery, other veins can be utilized. If a Saphenous Vein is insufficient - or actually varicose - it would not be harvested for bypass surgery and a normal veins would be used.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


North Shore Vein Center

Published on Oct 09, 2012

The most common conduits used for heart bypass surgery are the arteries that run behind the breastbone. Furthermore, if your saphenous vein is dilated and incompetent, it would be rejected for use should you one day need a bypass procedure. It is simply too weak to withstand the pressure of the arterial blood flow if it was used for the bypass.

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Answered by North Shore Vein Center

The most common conduits used for heart bypass surgery are the arteries that run behind the breastbone. Furthermore, if your saphenous vein is dilated and incompetent, it would be rejected for use should you one day need a bypass procedure. It is simply too weak to withstand the pressure of the arterial blood flow if it was used for the bypass.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Milford Vascular Institute

Published on Oct 04, 2012

There are other veins that can be used as bypass grafts for future heart
surgery. The lesser saphenous veins and arm veins and arteries are options. In
any case, abnormal, varicose veins can not be used as bypass grafts for heart
surgery anyway.

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Answered by Milford Vascular Institute

There are other veins that can be used as bypass grafts for future heart
surgery. The lesser saphenous veins and arm veins and arteries are options. In
any case, abnormal, varicose veins can not be used as bypass grafts for heart
surgery anyway.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Intermountain Vein Center

Published on Oct 03, 2012

Yes there are other veins to use and arteries that are able to be removed are used in bypass surgeries as well.

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Answered by Intermountain Vein Center

Yes there are other veins to use and arteries that are able to be removed are used in bypass surgeries as well.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Heart and Vein Center

Published on Oct 02, 2012

I usually make the following comments to this very common question:
1. If your saphenous vein is not only "leaking" but is also dilated, then you do not want to have that vein used for heart (coronary) bypass surgery.
2. The surgeons can use the mammary arteries and/or the radial arteries from the arms.
3. The number of coronary bypass surgeries is decreasing with the advent of more advanced and refined techniques that use stents.
4. If you have your saphenous veins ablated, then that is another good reason to work very hard on reducing your risk factors for coronary artery disease ( i.e. take an aspirin daily, keep your cholesterol as low as possible, keep your blood pressure under perfect control, exercise, eat well, do not smoke and lose weight, if needed.)

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Answered by Heart and Vein Center

I usually make the following comments to this very common question:
1. If your saphenous vein is not only "leaking" but is also dilated, then you do not want to have that vein used for heart (coronary) bypass surgery.
2. The surgeons can use the mammary arteries and/or the radial arteries from the arms.
3. The number of coronary bypass surgeries is decreasing with the advent of more advanced and refined techniques that use stents.
4. If you have your saphenous veins ablated, then that is another good reason to work very hard on reducing your risk factors for coronary artery disease ( i.e. take an aspirin daily, keep your cholesterol as low as possible, keep your blood pressure under perfect control, exercise, eat well, do not smoke and lose weight, if needed.)

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Center of Orange County

Published on Oct 02, 2012

Yes, there are other veins that can be used for arterial bypass conduits. However, this is a moot point since abnormal saphenous veins are not used for bypass because they are usually thickened, enlarged, and have defective valves - all of which means they would fail as bypass conduits. Thankfully, stents can now re-open closed arteries, and other veins can be used when arteries are not available.

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Answered by Vein Center of Orange County

Yes, there are other veins that can be used for arterial bypass conduits. However, this is a moot point since abnormal saphenous veins are not used for bypass because they are usually thickened, enlarged, and have defective valves - all of which means they would fail as bypass conduits. Thankfully, stents can now re-open closed arteries, and other veins can be used when arteries are not available.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialists

Published on Oct 02, 2012

Yes, there are other conduits (arteries and veins) which can be used in the future for bypass procedures. However, if you have multiple risk factors for arterial occlusive disease, including family history , diabetes,
smoking, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, you should have significant symptoms from your leaky veins to justify endovenous ablation. What I mean is, if your problem is mild (i.e. mild swelling or spider veins below the knee), you might want to pause before you consent to endovenous ablation. On the other hand, if you have swollen achy legs, large bulging and tender varicose veins, discolored skin around the ankles or veins which are threatening to bleed, then by all means proceed with fixing the veins, as the
likelihood of suffering significant complications from your venous disease is much greater than the likelihood of the leaking vein in question being a good candidate for future use as an artery bypass anywhere in your body. The veins we should be sealing are demonstrably weak and diseased and would not tolerate arterial pressurization. I hope this helped clarify the issue.

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Answered by Vein Specialists

Yes, there are other conduits (arteries and veins) which can be used in the future for bypass procedures. However, if you have multiple risk factors for arterial occlusive disease, including family history , diabetes,
smoking, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, you should have significant symptoms from your leaky veins to justify endovenous ablation. What I mean is, if your problem is mild (i.e. mild swelling or spider veins below the knee), you might want to pause before you consent to endovenous ablation. On the other hand, if you have swollen achy legs, large bulging and tender varicose veins, discolored skin around the ankles or veins which are threatening to bleed, then by all means proceed with fixing the veins, as the
likelihood of suffering significant complications from your venous disease is much greater than the likelihood of the leaking vein in question being a good candidate for future use as an artery bypass anywhere in your body. The veins we should be sealing are demonstrably weak and diseased and would not tolerate arterial pressurization. I hope this helped clarify the issue.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Americas Vein Centers - Southborough

Published on Oct 02, 2012

Yes, although those refluxing veins would not be used in any heart operation an any case.

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Answered by Americas Vein Centers - Southborough

Yes, although those refluxing veins would not be used in any heart operation an any case.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Oct 02, 2012

Yes, other veins can be used. Many patients with coronary artery disease receive stents, so no veins are used.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

Yes, other veins can be used. Many patients with coronary artery disease receive stents, so no veins are used.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Oct 02, 2012

The short saphenous in the back of the leg as well as the radial artery in the arm. The saphenous vein, if of normal size, is still best for leg bypasses though.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

The short saphenous in the back of the leg as well as the radial artery in the arm. The saphenous vein, if of normal size, is still best for leg bypasses though.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Arizona Vein Specialists

Published on Oct 01, 2012

Yes, or the internal mammary artery can be used. A damaged saphenous vein cannot be used.

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Answered by Arizona Vein Specialists

Yes, or the internal mammary artery can be used. A damaged saphenous vein cannot be used.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Clinic of North Carolina

Published on Oct 01, 2012

That is a great question.Technology has improved greatly improved with heart treatments. The leg(s) having leaking valves would not be used if you needed them. They usually are very dilated, too enlarged to attach to
a heart artery. You do have other veins in your legs that could be used, but with improvement with heart stents and using arteries in your chest or in your arm is used more frequently.

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Answered by Vein Clinic of North Carolina

That is a great question.Technology has improved greatly improved with heart treatments. The leg(s) having leaking valves would not be used if you needed them. They usually are very dilated, too enlarged to attach to
a heart artery. You do have other veins in your legs that could be used, but with improvement with heart stents and using arteries in your chest or in your arm is used more frequently.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


VeinCare Centers of Tennessee

Published on Oct 01, 2012

By the time a saphenous vein is diseased enough to need ablation, it no longer is usefull for a vascular bypass procedure. Many cardiac surgeons prefer the radial artery from the forearm or the internal mammary artery from inside the chest as a conduit for coronary arterial bypass procedures.

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Answered by VeinCare Centers of Tennessee

By the time a saphenous vein is diseased enough to need ablation, it no longer is usefull for a vascular bypass procedure. Many cardiac surgeons prefer the radial artery from the forearm or the internal mammary artery from inside the chest as a conduit for coronary arterial bypass procedures.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Published on Oct 01, 2012

Yes.

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Answered by Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Yes.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Oct 01, 2012

Good question. Typically, if the saphenous vein is refluxing (broken valves allowing the blood to flow back) they won't be used for heart bypass surgery. The preferred choice for bypass surgery is arteries (internal mammary, radial artery in arm). Also, a majority of patients will undergo stenting vs. bypass if not too many vessels are affected. If you have a saphenous vein on the other leg, that can be used if functioning.

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Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Good question. Typically, if the saphenous vein is refluxing (broken valves allowing the blood to flow back) they won't be used for heart bypass surgery. The preferred choice for bypass surgery is arteries (internal mammary, radial artery in arm). Also, a majority of patients will undergo stenting vs. bypass if not too many vessels are affected. If you have a saphenous vein on the other leg, that can be used if functioning.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein & Laser Centre, Ltd.

Published on Oct 01, 2012

In a short answer: YES, there are other veins to use for bypass operations. More importantly, varicose veins are not used for bypass as they are damaged (distended and often tortuous).

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Answered by Advanced Vein & Laser Centre, Ltd.

In a short answer: YES, there are other veins to use for bypass operations. More importantly, varicose veins are not used for bypass as they are damaged (distended and often tortuous).

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Published on Oct 01, 2012

Sometimes, but usually a bad vein with leaky valves will be no good to use either, as it will usually be too large due to the years of leaking and high pressure.

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Answered by Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Sometimes, but usually a bad vein with leaky valves will be no good to use either, as it will usually be too large due to the years of leaking and high pressure.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Oct 01, 2012

There are other veins in the arms that can be used as well as the radial and internal mammary arteries on both sides.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

There are other veins in the arms that can be used as well as the radial and internal mammary arteries on both sides.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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