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. 2004 Mar;39(3):547-55.
doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2003.09.045.

Early adaptation of human lower extremity vein grafts: wall stiffness changes accompany geometric remodeling

Jeffrey G Jacot  1 , Ibrahim Abdullah, Michael Belkin, Marie Gerhard-Herman, Peter Gaccione, Joseph F Polak, Magruder C Donaldson, Anthony D Whittemore, Michael S Conte
Affiliations
Free article

Early adaptation of human lower extremity vein grafts: wall stiffness changes accompany geometric remodeling

Jeffrey G Jacot et al. J Vasc Surg. 2004 Mar.
Free article

Abstract

Objective: To quantitatively describe the temporal changes in elastic properties and wall dimensions in lower-extremity vein grafts after implantation.

Design of study: This is a prospective study of patients (N = 38) undergoing lower extremity bypass grafts (N = 41) with autologous veins. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), luminal diameter, and wall thickness measurements were obtained by duplex ultrasound scan intraoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively for assessment of graft dimensions and wall stiffness.

Results: Lower extremity vein grafts showed an increase in PWV (from 16 +/- 1 to 21 +/- 3 cm/s; mean +/- SEM; P =.08), reflecting an increase in wall stiffness (from 1.2 +/- 0.2 to 2.5 +/- 0.7 x 10(6) dynes/cm; P =.02) and wall thickness (from 0.47 +/- 0.03 to 0.61 +/- 0.004 mm; P =.04) over the first 6 months after implantation. Changes in lumen diameter were positively correlated with changes in external graft diameter (P <.01) and negatively correlated with initial lumen diameter (P <.01) but not with changes in the wall thickness.

Conclusions: These results suggest complex remodeling of vein grafts during the first several months after implantation, with increased wall thickness occurring independent of variable changes in lumen diameter. Simultaneously, a marked increase in wall stiffness over this interval suggests a likely role for collagen deposition.

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