[Laser-doppler flowmetry in vivo and reactivity of the normal and abnormal venous wall]

Venous wall flux was measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry on the external surface of 24 normal veins, partially dissected during the preparation of the vein for aortocoronary bypass grafting. Measurements were performed before the final dissection of the vein when at least 3/4 of the adventitia and periadventitia tissue was still intact for a length of 3 cm. The segment of vein (10 cm) proximal to the sapheno-femoral junction was studied. Measurements were repeated on 22 varicose veins before stripping or ligation of the sapheno-femoral junction. Flux was measured with a Laserflo (Vasamedics) flowmeter. A Delrin (polycarbonate) spacer was placed between the probe and the vein wall surface. Measurements shown are the average of three minutes recording. Preliminary analysis indicates that flux appears to be lower in varicose veins in comparison with flux in the normal vein wall. However the variability of results and technical problems in flux measurements indicate the need of a larger measurement sample before confirming the observation of a decreased perfusion of the varicose venous wall.