The neglected second wound: a qualitative study of patients' experiences of lower limb vascular harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.
SY, L., F, L., YH, C., SS, L., XM, Z., & GZ, S. (2026). The neglected second wound: a qualitative study of patients' experiences of lower limb vascular harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.. BMJ open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110448
SY L, F L, YH C, SS L, XM Z, GZ S. The neglected second wound: a qualitative study of patients' experiences of lower limb vascular harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.. BMJ open. 2026; doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110448
SY L, F L, YH C, et al. The neglected second wound: a qualitative study of patients' experiences of lower limb vascular harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.[J]. BMJ open. 2026. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110448.
@article{sy2026,
author = {Liu SY and Li F and Chen YH and Liu SS and Zhang XM and Sun GZ},
title = {The neglected second wound: a qualitative study of patients' experiences of lower limb vascular harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.},
journal = {BMJ open},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110448},
note = {PMID: 42457427},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Liu SY AU - Li F AU - Chen YH AU - Liu SS AU - Zhang XM AU - Sun GZ TI - The neglected second wound: a qualitative study of patients' experiences of lower limb vascular harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting. T2 - BMJ open PY - 2026 DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110448 AN - PMID:42457427 ER -
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the experiences and feelings of patients undergoing lower limb vein harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). DESIGN: Qualitative, phenomenological research methodology with purposive sampling. Semistructured interview data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven-step method with the NVivo 12 Plus software. SETTING: A single-centre study in a Grade A hospital in Nanjing, China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 23 patients who underwent CABG with saphenous vein harvesting between October 2024 and March 2025. RESULTS: The participants' experiences were summarised into four themes: preoperative cognitive differences influencing decision-making, postoperative physiological changes triggering psychological distress, diverse coping strategies and support needs, and reconstruction of body image and identity. CONCLUSION: Medical staff should pay attention to the feelings of patients undergoing CABG with vein harvesting from the lower limbs. By actively implementing shared decision-making, promoting high-quality nursing services, improving multidimensional support systems, and enhancing patients' psychological and social adaptability, healthcare professionals can improve patients' perioperative experiences and promote their comprehensive recovery.