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. 2021 Jun 25:20:e20190117.
doi: 10.1590/1677-5449.190117. eCollection 2021.

Experimental comparative assay of tensile resistance of greater saphenous vein from ankle and groin

Carlos Eduardo Del Valle  1 , Marcio Miyamotto  2   3   4   5 , Jorge Rufino Ribas Timi  1   6
Affiliations

Experimental comparative assay of tensile resistance of greater saphenous vein from ankle and groin

Carlos Eduardo Del Valle et al. J Vasc Bras. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Background: The great saphenous vein is used as patch material in several types of arterial reconstruction, including trauma and carotid and femoral endarterectomy. There have been reports of saphenous patch blowout, particularly of patches constructed with veins harvested from the ankle. There is a need for objective measurement of the resistance of saphenous vein tissues.

Objectives: To measure the tensile strength of the great saphenous vein harvested at the ankle and groin and analyze the correlation between diameter and tissue strength.

Methods: Venous samples were harvested during elective saphenous stripping in patients with symptomatic varicose veins. Only segments without reflux were included. Ten limbs from eight patients were studied, providing 20 samples in total. Venous segments were opened along their longitudinal axis and fitted to electronic traction assay equipment to obtain values for material maximum tension in kilograms-force per square centimeter (kgf/cm2; the maximum force resisted by the segment, divided by its cross-sectional area).

Results: The average maximum tension in the ankle saphenous vein group ranged from 74.02 to 190.10 kgf/cm2 and from 13.53 to 69.45 kgf/cm2 in the groin saphenous vein group (p < 0.0001). The Pearson coefficient for the correlation between vein diameter and maximum tension was -0.852 (moderate to strong inverse correlation).

Conclusions: Ankle saphenous vein tissue from female patients operated for varicose veins has significantly higher resistance than saphenous vein tissue from the groin and there is an inverse relation between vein diameter and resistance of tissue from the same population.

Contexto: A veia safena magna é usada como material de remendo em vários tipos de reconstrução arterial, incluindo no trauma e endarterectomias de carótida e femoral. Houve relatos de ruptura do remendo de safena, particularmente de veias colhidas na região do tornozelo. Há uma necessidade de medição objetiva da resistência tecidual da safena magna.

Objetivos: Mensurar a força tensional suportada pela veia safena magna e analisar a correlação entre resistência e diâmetro da veia.

Métodos: As veias foram coletadas durante operações de safenectomia por varizes dos membros inferiores. Foram analisados apenas segmentos sem refluxo. Foram analisados 10 membros de oito pacientes, com um total de 20 espécimes. Os espécimes foram submetidos a ensaio de tração em equipamento eletrônico, obtendo-se os valores de tensão máxima do material em quilogramas-força por centímetro quadrado (kgf/cm2; força máxima dividida pela área de secção transversa do segmento submetido à tração).

Resultados: A tensão máxima suportada pela veia safena do tornozelo variou de 74,02 a 190,10 kgf/cm2, e a tensão máxima da veia safena da crossa variou de 13,53 a 69,45 kgf/cm2 (p < 0,0001). O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson entre o diâmetro da veia distendida e a tensão máxima suportada foram iguais a -0,852 (correlação inversa moderada a forte).

Conclusões: A resistência tecidual da veia safena magna do tornozelo é maior do que a da crossa em mulheres submetidas a operação de varizes; há correlação negativa entre o diâmetro da veia e sua resistência tecidual nessa mesma população.

Keywords: saphenous vein; varicose veins; vascular surgical procedures; vascular system injuries.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: No conflicts of interest declared concerning the publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. (A) Traction testing machine with grips; (B) venous segment cut open lengthwise, ready for use in the test; (C) segment after the traction test; (D) force against displacement graph provided by the test machine, illustrating the force applied as the vein is tractioned up to the point of maximum force resisted.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Measuring the thickness of the great saphenous vein under an optical microscope.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Correlation between maximum tension resisted by each segment of great saphenous vein and their respective diameters, for all 20 venous segments tested. Pearson’s correlation coefficient = -0.852247 (compatible with a strong inverse correlation between diameter and tissue resistance).
Figura 1
Figura 1. (A) Máquina de ensaio de tração com as presilhas; (B) segmento venoso aberto em sentido longitudinal pronto para o ensaio; (C) segmento após ensaio de tração; (D) gráfico força vs. deslocamento fornecido pelo sistema do aparelho, demonstrando a força aplicada à medida que a veia é tracionada até o ponto de máxima força suportada.
Figura 2
Figura 2. Medida da espessura da veia safena magna sob microscopia óptica.
Figura 3
Figura 3. Correlação entre a tensão máxima suportada pela safena magna em cada segmento e seu respectivo diâmetro, para todos os 20 segmentos venosos submetidos ao experimento. Coeficiente de correlação de Pearson = -0,852247 (compatível com forte correlação inversa entre diâmetro e resistência tecidual).
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