Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Procedure for Human Saphenous Veins Ex Vivo Perfusion and External Reinforcement
Published on: October 1, 2014
Unregulated saphenous vein graft distension decreases tissue viscoelasticity
Eric S Wise1,2, Kyle M Hocking1,3, Brian C Evans1,3
11 Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Objectives:
Unregulated intraoperative distension of human saphenous vein (SV) graft leads to supraphysiologic luminal pressures and causes acute physiologic and cellular injury to the conduit. The effect of distension on tissue viscoelasticity, a biophysical property critical to a successful graft, is not well described. In this investigation, we quantify the loss of viscoelasticity in SV deformed by distension and compare the results to tissue distended in a pressure-controlled fashion.
Materials And Methods:
Unmanipulated porcine SV was used as a control or distended without regulation and distended with an in-line pressure release valve (PRV). Rings were cut from these tissues and suspended on a muscle bath. Force versus time tracings of tissue constricted with KCl (110 mM) and relaxed with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were fit to the Hill model of viscoelasticity, using mean absolute error (MAE) and r2-goodness of fit as measures of conformity.
Results:
One-way ANOVA analysis demonstrated that, in tissue distended manually, the MAE was significantly greater and the r2-goodness of fit was significantly lower than both undistended tissues and tissues distended with a PRV (p<0.05) in KCl-induced vasoconstriction and SNP-induced vasodilation.
Conclusions:
Unregulated manual distension of SV graft causes loss of viscoelasticity and such loss may be mitigated with the use of an in-line PRV.
More Related Videos
09:10Human Saphenous Vein Endothelial Cell Isolation and Exposure to Controlled Levels of Shear Stress and Stretch
Published on: April 21, 2023
07:02A Rabbit Venous Interposition Model Mimicking Revascularization Surgery using Vein Grafts to Assess Intimal Hyperplasia under Arterial Blood Pressure
Published on: May 15, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Varicose Veins I: Introduction
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care