Thrombosis and Recanalization of Veins Used as Venous Grafts

Abstract

Twenty-four vein grafts or venous sutures under delicate surgical conditions were performed and followed for patency or thrombosis. Seven of the 24 thrombosed. Eight remained patent for periods up to 220 days and nine initially thrombosed and later became patent after recanalization occurred. Thus, over half of the 71% total patency resulted via early thrombosis and later, recanalization. Post-operative evaluation of such experiments should therefore include early, as well as late phlebograms and careful autopsy examination, taking the factor of subsequent recanalization of thrombosis into consideration.