An Experimental Evaluation of Microvascular Grafts

Hahn, Soo Bong; Han, Dae Young; Jahng, Jun Seop

Abstract

Vascular grafts are often required in clinical stiuations to bridge arterial or venous grafts. Numerous studies exist in the literature concerning the results of such arterial and venous graft of relatively large vessels. There are only a few reports dealing with experimental microvascular grafts. Histopathological features of the grafted vessels were studied after autogenous venous grafts,autogenous arterial grafts and venous allografts using microsurgical techniques. The results were summerized as follow. 1. The patency rate of grafted vessels by microsurgical techniques was 86.8%. 2. In autogenous venous grafts histopathological changes occur later, and to a less pronounced degree, than that in autogenous arterial grafts. 3. Venous allografts showed severe acute inflammatory reaction throughout the layer at 3~7 days postoperatively, but histopathological features of grafted vessels of autografts and venous allografts' did not differ each other in later results. 4. Autogenous venous grafts, autogenous arterial gtafts and venous allografts persist as living sucture but undergo certain histological changes consisting of fibrous reinforcement. 5. It may be said that histological examination of the specimen led general conclusion that the most useful microvascular graft to reestablish circulation of damaged vessels is the autogenous venous graft, but autogenous arterial graft and venous allograft are also applicable when autogenous venous tissue is not available.