title: Development of an ex vivo model of endovenous laser ablation of the great saphenous vein in a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an ex vivo model for the analysis of macroscopic, histological and immunohistochemical changes after experimental endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a model produced with glass tubes and introducer sheaths to mimic the physiological conditions of EVLA procedures, such as tumescence and blood flow. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate an ex vivo procedure of EVLA of an incompetent GSV segment using a 1470-nm radial fiber diode laser (7 W power) and an automatic pull-back device. The vein segment was analyzed macroscopically and by hematoxylin & eosin staining, elastic fiber histochemistry, Gomori's trichrome staining, and alpha-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No perforations were observed macroscopically. No muscle cell adhesion was observed in the central part of the ablated vein, showing tissue disruption. There was low labeling for elastic fibers, disruption of muscle fibers, and a reduced expression of the specific marker for this cell type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This ex vivo endovenous laser ablation model is a low cost alternative to in vivo experiments, providing standardized experimental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Clinical Surgery, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter Junior Boim
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge Rufino Ribas
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Timi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiano Luiz
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Erzinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Filipe Carlos
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Caron
authors.affiliation: Hospital Angelina Caron, Campina Grande do Sul, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alan Knolseisen
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cambrussi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery