title: Hypothesis: a potential role for the vasa vasorum in the maintenance of vein graft patency.
abstract: Autologous saphenous vein is the most commonly used conduit for coronary artery bypass surgery with more than 50% grafts occluding within 10 years. In conventional preparation the vein undergoes considerable surgical trauma with damage to the outer layers during harvesting. Within these regions are situated the vasa vasorum and small vessels providing oxygen and nutrients to the vessel wall. Certain vasa vasorum terminate in the vessel lumen where it is suggested that they have a physiological role. Preservation of the vasa vasorum of saphenous veins used as bypass conduits may play an important role in the maintenance of graft patency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom. mdashwood@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dashwood
authors.forename: Radhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loesch
authors.forename: Domingos S R
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000637:transplantation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014654:Vascular Patency