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Human greater saphenous vein: histologic and ultrastructural variation
M L Marin1, R E Gordon, F J Veith
1Division of Vascular Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10467.
Cardiovascular Surgery (London, England)
|February 1, 1994
Summary
Human saphenous veins show diverse histologic features, including variable wall thickness and cellular changes. Understanding these variations is crucial for preventing vein graft stenosis after arterial reconstruction surgery.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Saphenous veins are commonly used for infrainguinal arterial reconstruction.
- Understanding vein morphology is critical for graft patency and preventing stenosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the histologic and ultrastructural features of human saphenous veins used in arterial reconstruction.
- To identify morphological variations that may predispose to vein graft stenosis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 30 remnant human saphenous veins fixed at arterial pressure.
- Light and electron microscopy were used to examine vein wall structure.
- Histologic features, including intima, media, and cellular composition, were assessed.
Main Results:
- Observed significant variations in vein wall thickness (20-360 microns).
- Found discontinuous endothelial cells, redundant intimal folds, and microvalves.
- Identified spindle cells with smooth muscle cell phenotype in 10% of intima samples.
- Noted vein wall calcification associated with thickened intima in some specimens.
Conclusions:
- Saphenous veins from patients undergoing bypass surgery exhibit common structural variations.
- Further research is needed to correlate these altered vein morphologies with subsequent vein graft stenosis.