Velocity Distribution and Intimal Proliferation in Autologous Vein Grafts in Dogs

SUMMARY Autologous femoral veins grafted between the external iliac arteries in 18 dogs provided a model for studying the hemodynamics and histopathology of vein graft bypasses. The angle of proximal anastomosis was varied by groups (90°) to produce a wide range of flow conditions within the grafts....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Circulation research 1978-06, Vol.42 (6), p.792-801
Main Authors: RITTGERS, STANLEY E, KARAYANNACOS, PANAYOTIS E, GUY, JULIA F, NEREM, ROBERT M, SHAW, GEORGE M, HOSTETLER, JEPTHA R, VASKO, JOHN S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blood Flow Velocity
Dogs
Endothelium - pathology
Female
Femoral Vein - pathology
Femoral Vein - transplantation
Hemodynamics
Male
Muscle, Smooth - pathology
Transplantation, Autologous
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Summary:SUMMARY Autologous femoral veins grafted between the external iliac arteries in 18 dogs provided a model for studying the hemodynamics and histopathology of vein graft bypasses. The angle of proximal anastomosis was varied by groups (90°) to produce a wide range of flow conditions within the grafts. Four months after implantation, point velocity measurements of blood flow and histological examination of the superior and inferior walls were made at proximal, middle, and distal locations in each graft. Hot-film velocity measurements revealed outwardly skewed velocity profiles in the proximal locations in all grafts, and flow visualization models showed secondary fluid motions and separation zones at those regions. Velocity profiles in the middle and distal regions of the grafts were more symmetrical and showed no flow separation. Histological examination of wall sections along the graft length showed that intimal proliferation occurred focally and ranged from 1 to 100 fita in thickness. No signficant correlation between graft angle and degree of intimal proliferation was found. However, there was a weak inverse correlation between the apparent fluid shear rate and the corresponding degree of intimal proliferation, with the greatest proliferation occurring in the regions experiencing the lowest shearing forces. Regions of low shear rate should be avoided by maintaining adequate flow rates through the grafts and thus minimising losses of patency due to both thrombus formation and intimal proliferation.
ISSN:0009-7330
1524-4571
DOI:10.1161/01.res.42.6.792