LASER-DOPPLER FLUX IN NORMAL AND VARICOSE -VEINS WALL

Venous wall flux was measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry on the ext ernal surface of 24 normal veins, partially dissected during the prepa ration of the vein for aortocoronary bypass grafting. Measurements wer e performed before the final dissection of the vein when at least 3/4 of the adventitia and periadventitia tissue was still intact for a len gth of 3 cm. The segment of vein (10 cm) proximal to the sapheno-femor al junction was studied. Measurements were repeated on 22 varicose vei ns before stripping or ligation of the sapheno-femoral junction. Flux was measured with a Laserflo (Vasamedics) flowmeter. A Delrin (polycar bonate) spacer was placed between the probe and the vein wall surface. Measurements shown are the average of three minutes recording. Prelim inary analysis indicates that flux appears to be lower in varicose vei ns in comparison with flux in the normal vein wall. However the variab ility of results and technical problems in flux measurements indicate the need of a larger measurement sample before confirming the observat ion of a decreased perfusion of the varicose venous wall.