[Histological evidences of using human external jugular vein to reconstruct carotid artery: a comparative study with greater saphenous vein].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the histological architecture of human external jugular vein and greater saphenous vein and to determine the feasibility of using autogenous external jugular vein for reconstruction of carotid artery defects.


METHODS
Specimens of 3 external jugular veins and greater saphenous vein and 1 segment of common carotid artery resected due to involvement of malignant tumor were available. The specimens were subjected to HE staining and examined under light microscopy. In addition, elastic fiber stain and Smactin stain were conducted to detect the amount and location of the elastic fibers and smooth muscles in the venous specimens.


RESULTS
The smooth muscle cells in external jugular vein and greater saphenous vein were different both in amount and orientation of arrangement. There were more smooth muscle cells in the tunica media of the external jugular vein arranged circumferentially, while in greater saphenous vein, the smooth muscle cells were mainly located in the adventitia and arranged longitudinally. There were fewer elastic fibers in the venous walls.


CONCLUSIONS
Histologically, it seemed more reasonable to reconstruct the carotid artery with external jugular vein.
Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China. zhjw@citiz.net
Jia-wei
JW
Zheng
Chuan-jun
CJ
Chen
Jian
J
Meng
Zhi-yuan
ZY
Zhang