Introduction Surgical site infections following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can lead to severe complications. This retrospective study examines risk factors and complications with a specific focus on the financial impact of saphenous vein harvest (SVH) site infections in patients who underwent CABG at a large Australian centre from Oct 2023 to Mar 2024. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 132 patients who underwent CABG (isolated & combined) with SVG harvest. Data on patient demographics, pre-op conditions, intra-op details, and post-op outcomes were collected and analysed using regression models. Results Among the 132 patients, 8% developed saphenous vein harvest site infections (SVHIs). Regression analysis adjusted for other complications and pre-op risk factors revealed that patients with SVHIs were 1.9 times more likely to be readmitted compared to those without infections (p<0.001). These readmissions and extra nights in hospital due to SVHIs led to an estimated cost burden of $60k+ over the six-months. Discussion SVHIs is a strong predictor for readmission and so, a significant financial burden to hospitals. They also contribute to funding penalties. Preventative strategies such as total arterial revascularisation (37% of CABGs at this centre) and use of minimally invasive techniques like endoscopic vessel harvesting (EVH) must be considered to reduce this risk. Conclusion Despite the rise of total arterial revascularisation, SVGs remain prevalent. However, SVHIs significantly increase readmissions and healthcare costs in CABG patients. Implementing preventive measures and adopting advanced surgical techniques can improve patient outcomes and reduce the financial burden. Larger cohort studies and in-depth cost analyses are warranted to enhance the predictive accuracy. Further research is also crucial to assess the effectiveness of advanced surgical techniques (e.g. EVH) in Australia and New Zealand.