title: The functional and structural effects of hypothermic storage on ischaemic arterial grafts.
abstract: The effects of hypothermic ischaemia on blood vessels are unknown. This study aimed to determine the 3 week patency rate and the pathology of 9 experimental groups of hypothermically stored ischaemic arteries and one control group in a rabbit femoral artery model. Ischaemia times were 0 h, 24 h, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks (Groups 1-8). Patency was over 80% in all groups after 3 weeks reinsertion. Following reinsertion control grafts maintained normal arterial structure, but cellular degeneration had occurred in all ischaemic grafts and appeared complete after 4 weeks ischaemia. The graft connective tissue framework frequently remained intact. Repair was evident in central graft regions after 2 weeks ischaemia and 3 weeks reinsertion, but occurred only adjacent to the anastomosis in 4-10 week ischaemic arteries. Four week ischaemic arteries (Groups 9 and 10) reinserted for 6 and 12 weeks respectively exhibited near complete repair but patency dropped to 60% in the 12 week group.
authors.affiliation: Microsurgery Research Centre, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gurusinghe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014654:Vascular Patency