[Comparative characteristics of gas and mechanical endarterectomy based on light and scanning electron microscopy]

A portion of a coronary artery removed at mechanical or gas endarterectomy shows the intima, internal elastic membrane and part of the media. After gas endarterectomy, the vascular "mould" is cone-shaped and pointed, resembling the main arterial trunk with lateral branches, whereas its surface is smooth. After mechanical endarterectomy, the main trunk "mould" may have no lateral branches, while its surface is rough. Electron microscopic scanning shows collagen and elastic fibres of the vascular wall to remain intact following gas endarterectomy, while after mechanical procedure they are torn and "stick out" on the surface, this observation providing anatomical evidence for the advantage of the gas technique over the mechanical one. Following endarterectomy, the vessel retains part of the media, outer elastic membrane and adventitia, whereas the vascular lumen closes due to dystonia of folding vascular wall.