One percent of 2,545 patients undergoing coronary revascularization with the saphenous vein over a 5 year period sustained leg wound complications which necessitated extra care. Fourteen complications were minor and required only drainage, a new antibiotic, and dressing changes. Thirteen major wound complications required wide debridement and, of these, five could be closed only with skin grafts. Eight wounds were infected, two with Staphylococcus aureus and six with mixed gram-negative flora. Ninety-three percent of these wounds were in the thigh. Average weight of patients with leg wound complications was 73.5 +/- 3.5 kg and not different from that of a randomly selected control group (73.8 +/-1.2 kg). However, 40% of the patients were women, a much higher incidence than control (p less than 0.005). Hospital stay increased significantly from 12.1 +/- 0.5 days for the control group to 24 +/- 2.6 days for the group with wound complications (p less than 0.005). Average hospital stay was 33.6 +/- 3.8 days (p less than 0.001) in those patients with major wound complications (estimated hospital cost $9,900). Leg wound complications of saphenous vein harvest are infrequent but serious. Efforts to prevent this complication should include minimal dissection, careful hemostasis, and closure in layers. Development of skin slough, infection, and necrosis necessitating débridement and drainage is a major and expensive complication. Wide excision and direct closure are necessary to minimize hospital stay and reduce the requirement for skin grafting.