The use of cryopreserved venous allografts in microvascular surgery without immunosuppression: an experimental study

Excellent patency rates are currently established in the use of autogenous veins as interposition vein grafts in microsurgical practice. Allografts may be a viable alternative source of vein grafts. Recent advances in cryobiology have enabled the controlled freezing of tissues with preservation of vital cellular elements. Although several reports have shown the successful use of cryopreserved large-vessel allografts, few have addressed cryopreservation of microvessels (1 to 2 mm in diameter). In this study, the authors have successfully cryopreserved femoral veins in a rat model and transplanted them as interposition vein grafts into arterial defects across major histocompatibility barriers (ACI to Lewis). Short-term patencies (21 days) were determined, and histologic and scanning electron microscopic analysis were performed. Patency of 100 percent was achieved in both fresh control veins and in cryopreserved veins at 21 days.