The response of venous valvular endothelium to autotransplantation and in vitro preservation.
Intraoperative preservation techniques in popular use produced endothelial damage in venous valves of dogs. This damage was evident with only 20 minutes of preservation. Severe endothelial damage was also evident after surgical autologous transfer of valve-bearing vein segments. The damage evolved over a period of days. At 28 days there was essentially complete desquamation of the valve apparatus with exposure of the collagen fibrils to the bloodstream. Complete reendothelialization had occurred by 4 months. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013997:Time Factors; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D014680:Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*