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HEPARIN REDUCES THE INTIMAL HYPERPLASIA SEEN IN MICROVASCULAR VEIN GRAFTS
Author(s) -
Norman P. E.,
House A. K.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1991.tb00013.x
Subject(s) - medicine , heparin , intimal hyperplasia , anastomosis , saline , surgery , vein , artery , internal elastic lamina , hyperplasia , thrombosis , smooth muscle
The influence of heparin on microvascular vein graft intimal hyperplasia was studied in a rat model. The iliolumbar vein was grafted into the iliac artery in 80 rats. Heparin was delivered via a subcutaneous miniosmotic pump, starting either 2 days before grafting (early heparin group, n = 20) or immediately after grafting (heparin group, n = 30). Saline‐containing pumps were placed in the control group (n = 30). Heparin activity was measured at 24 h, and again 3 weeks later when the animals were sacrificed. The grafts were harvested and prepared for histological examination. The intimal thickness was measured at the anastomoses and in the mid‐graft region using an eye‐piece graticule set at right angles to the graft internal elastic lamina. Heparin significantly reduced the intimal thickness at the anastomoses, from a median of 38 μm (range: 10–100μm) in the control group to a median of 20μm (range: 10–150μm) in the heparin group. A similar reduction was seen in the mid‐graft region. Although intimal thickening was reduced in the early heparin group, this reduction failed to reach statistical significance. The possible clinical application is discussed.