Freeze-dried microarterial replacement allografts in rabbits.
Microvascular techniques offer important alternatives for reconstructive head and neck surgery. To test the viability of freeze-dried allografts, a pilot experimental study was performed using the rabbit model. Freeze-dried preserved arterial allografts were implanted into femoral artery defects in eight subjects. After 6 weeks, all grafts were harvested and prepared for histological and electron microscopic analysis. Immediate patency was 100%. One subject was excluded on the third postoperative day. Of the seven remaining grafts, three (43%) were patent at 6 weeks. These results are comparable to previous data obtained using freeze-dried arterial allografts in the same animal model. Although further investigation is required, this pilot study suggests possible future application of cryopreserved vascular micrografts.
Pratt
M F
MF
Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Medical University, Charleston, SC.
Bank
H L
HL
Schmehl
M
M
Horton
W D
WD
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000637:transplantation*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011817:Rabbits; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014654:Vascular Patency