Endothelial cell injury in human saphenous veins after manipulation and tweezer grasping

Eight pieces of human saphenous vein were subjected to tweezer grasping and digital handling. The pressure between the tweezer branches was estimated to be 2 x 10(5) Pa. The resulting endothelial injury was studied by light microscopy (LM), scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tweezer-grasping resulted in focal destruction of the endothelial lining, whereas digital handling (rolling the vein 3-4 times between the gloved fingers) resulted in minor morphological endothelial cell alterations.