COMPARISON OF AUTOGRAFTS AND FROZEN, IRRADIATED HOMOGRAFTS IN CANINE FEMORAL VENOUS RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract

Autogenous veins were the ideal substitute for bridging venous defects. Experimentally, fresh homografts had patency rates comparable to autografts. A method of preservation must be employed if homografts become practical for clinical use. Homografts were frozen, irradiated and stored for a total of 6 wk. Following femoral venous reconstruction in dogs, patency rates between frozen, irradiated homografts and fresh autografts were compared and found to be similar over a 6 mo. period. Recanalization of the frozen, irradiated homografts occurred at the same rate as did that of the autografts. Cryopreservation and irradiation were suitable methods of preservation that did not adversely affect patency. Irradiation sterilizes tissue and may decrease the potential of the graft to stimulate the recipient''s immunologic system.